Atypical presentation of an impacted radiolucent esophageal foreign body

Abstract

Patients with impacted esophageal foreign bodies usually present with gastrointestinal and rarely with respiratory symptoms. Impacted esophageal foreign bodies may be identified by radiologic studies. Ingested radiolucent foreign bodies may be more difficult to diagnose, especially if the patient presents with minimal symptoms. We report a rare case of a child who presented with stridor and obstructive sleep apnea. The cause of respiratory symptoms was thought to be due to enlarged tonsils and adenoids, and the patient was scheduled for tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy. On re-evaluation by the surgeon on the day of surgery, the procedure was changed to diagnostic microlaryngoscopy and bronchoscopy to rule out any other cause. The patient's respiratory symptoms were resolved when an incidental discovery and retrieval of the radiolucent esophageal foreign body was made. The diagnosis of radiolucent esophageal foreign body can be difficult and can be easily missed without reasonable clinical suspicion.