Endoscopic Mucosal Incision for Removal of a Deeply Embedded Esophageal Fish Bone: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Gastroenterology
• Radiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Deeply embedded esophageal foreign bodies pose diagnostic challenges.
• Conventional endoscopy may fail to visualize these difficult-to-reach objects.
• Surgical intervention is often considered for non-visible foreign bodies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the utility of computed tomography (CT) in guiding endoscopic management of deeply embedded esophageal foreign bodies.
• To assess if CT-guided endoscopic mucosal incision can avoid surgery.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of patients with deeply embedded esophageal foreign bodies.
• Review of CT imaging findings and subsequent endoscopic procedures.
• Comparison of outcomes between CT-guided endoscopic intervention and surgery.

Main Results:

• Computed tomography (CT) accurately identified the location and depth of embedded esophageal foreign bodies.
• CT findings facilitated precise endoscopic mucosal incision.
• Endoscopic intervention guided by CT successfully removed foreign bodies in selected patients, avoiding surgery.

Conclusions:

• Careful CT evaluation is crucial for diagnosing deeply embedded esophageal foreign bodies.
• CT imaging can guide endoscopic mucosal incision, offering a less invasive alternative to surgery.
• This approach is valuable when advanced endoscopic imaging modalities are unavailable.