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An unusual case of long-standing retained nasopharyngeal foreign body
Maimoona Shafqat1, Seema Naveed1, Ambreen Riaz1
1Department of ENT, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad, Pakistan.
Insights
Nasopharyngeal foreign body impaction is rare but can be missed, leading to prolonged symptoms. Prompt diagnosis and removal are crucial for pediatric patients presenting with persistent nasal issues.
Area of Science:
- Otolaryngology
- Pediatric Emergency Medicine
Background:
- Foreign body impaction in the nasopharynx is uncommon.
- Delayed diagnosis can lead to significant morbidity in children.
Observation:
- A 2.5-year-old child presented with chronic foul-smelling nasal discharge, snoring, and mouth breathing.
- A partially radiopaque foreign body was identified in the nasopharynx via X-ray.
Findings:
- The nasopharyngeal foreign body was successfully removed under general anesthesia.
- The impaction had been missed for nearly a year, highlighting diagnostic challenges.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering the nasopharynx in cases of unexplained chronic nasal symptoms in children.
- Increased awareness among clinicians can improve the timely diagnosis and management of pediatric nasopharyngeal foreign bodies.
Abstract:
The nasopharynx is a rare anatomical location where a foreign body may become lodged after being ingested or inhaled. We are presenting a rare case of nasopharyngeal foreign body impaction in a two-and-a-half-year-old child that had been missed for almost a year. The child presented with a history of right-sided foul-smelling nasal discharge, snoring and mouth breathing. An X-Ray soft tissue lateral view of the post-nasal space showed an irregular partially radiopaque nasopharyngeal foreign body. The removal of the foreign body was performed under general anaesthesia successfully. Foreign body impaction in the nasopharynx can easily be missed and it is important to keep this region in mind when dealing with missing inhaled or ingested foreign bodies.
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