Delayed endoscopic retrieval of a retained toothbrush: a case report of a rare 3-year asymptomatic retention

Foreign body ingestion is a common clinical issue, but swallowing a full-sized toothbrush is exceptionally rare. We report a case of a 32-year-old Sudanese male with a three-year history of an accidentally ingested toothbrush. The patient presented with mild epigastric pain and intermittent dysphagia but no acute complications. Imaging, including X-ray and computed tomography, failed to identify the foreign body. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a complete toothbrush lodged in the stomach, with its head extending into the duodenum. The object was successfully removed intact using a polypectomy snare under conscious sedation, without mucosal injury or complications. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges posed by radiolucent foreign bodies and underscores the key role of endoscopy in both diagnosis and treatment. It also demonstrates that delayed endoscopic removal can be safely accomplished, though early retrieval remains essential to prevent serious outcomes such as perforation or obstruction.