A Foreign Body in the Pharynx Migrating through the Internal Jugular Vein: Case Report of Unusual Complication

Abstract

Foreign body ingestion is a common problem encountered in clinical practice. One of the rare complications of a swallowed foreign body is its migration from the site of entry into the subcutaneous tissues of neck. We report the case of a 57-year old woman who was admitted to our otolaryngology outpatient clinic with a cervical neck mass, with a history of accidental ingestion of a sharp pointed metallic foreign body 2 months earlier. Cervical X-rays and Computed Tomography (CT) scan was then done that showed a 2-cm long metallic foreign body in the subcutaneous tissues of neck. The Doppler ultrasound showed a large thrombus occluding the right internal jugular vein. The foreign body was easily removed under general anesthesia. Postoperative period was uneventful and the patient was doing well on follow-up without any complications.