Percutaneous extraction of two deeply lodged foreign bodies

Interventional radiologists have long been familiar with percutaneous removal of intravascular foreign bodies. Catheter fragments and other foreign bodies can, however, also lie within extravascular soft tissues and should be amenable to extraction by similar techniques. We successfully removed fractured catheter fragments embedded in the soft tissues of 2 patients. In both cases, percutaneous needle puncture under radiologic guidance was used to gain directed access. Technical considerations of this method and its potential application are discussed.