Pediatric Abdominal Pain: Boba Tea and Computed Tomography Findings: Case Report

Discovery of pearl-like, radiopaque foreign bodies is not widely documented in the literature. In this report, we describe an unusual radiological finding of bubble tea pearls (small, chewy spheres derived from cassava starch) on computed tomography (CT) from an increasingly popular drink among adolescents.

An 11-year-old female presented to the emergency department with severe abdominal pain. Physical examination revealed generalized abdominal tenderness, with increased pain in the right lower quadrant. The patient's history was concerning for acute appendicitis. Laboratory results were unremarkable, and ultrasound was inconclusive for suspected appendicitis. A contrast-enhanced CT of the abdomen found several ingested radiopaque densities within the stomach. Further toxicology testing was negative or within normal limits. It was later found that the patient had consumed bubble tea earlier in the day. The patient was admitted for monitoring, and symptoms resolved spontaneously the following morning.

When pearl-like, radiopaque densities are found in the abdomen, bubble tea could be considered as a possible etiology to prevent unnecessary workup and exposure to radiation for pediatric patients.