Abstract
Background: Aspirated foreign bodies in the airway continue to present challenges to the otorhinolaryngologist and interventional pulmonologists. To established the role of HRCT in diagnosis of foreign bodies in suspected cases.
 Methods-30 patients with suspected FB inhalation on the basis of clinical history and symptoms like respiratory distress, stridor, and history of chocking were recruited for study in department of Otorhinolaryngology in Sardar Patel Medical College and Hospital, Bikaner Rajasthan.
 Results: 29 patients (96.67%) with foreign bodies were identified on chest CT. For the patients with tracheobronchial foreign bodies, the occurrence of unilateral hyperlucent lung and post-obstructive lobar or segmental infiltrates on plain chest X-ray was 43.33%. 17 patients (56.67%) had no abnormalities on plain X-ray. The difference between multidetector CT and plain X-ray results was statistically significant.
 Conclusion: Foreign bodies are missed byclinical and X-ray examination in many cases and that is only picked up by HRCT. Thus it is the ideal modality in diagnosis of foreign bodies to avoid the morbidity and mortality associated with missing foreign body.
 Keywords: foreign bodies, high resolution computed tomography, X-ray
Highlights
Aspirated foreign bodies in the airway continue to present challenges to the otorhinolaryngologist and interventional pulmonologists
The findings of chest radiography are normal in up to 30% of children who inhaled a FB and the presence of pulmonary infiltrates may misdirect the management of FB inhalation
The finding in form of age, sex, type and site of FB noted and results of high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) compare with X-ray and bronchoscopy
Summary
Aspirated foreign bodies in the airway continue to present challenges to the otorhinolaryngologist and interventional pulmonologists. Inhalation of foreign bodies is common in pediatric age group and 94 % of them occur in infants and children, with peak incidence in the age group of 1-3 years and is very rare in adults. A large foreign body occluding the upper airway may lead to sudden death, whereas a small foreign body lodged in the bronchial tree may present with less severe system. The findings of chest radiography are normal in up to 30% of children who inhaled a FB and the presence of pulmonary infiltrates may misdirect the management of FB inhalation. 5 Bronchoscopy is often performed for definitive diagnosis and management, it is invasive and procedure related serious complications may occur. In addition to the detection of foreign body HRCT and virtual bronchoscopy can help the surgeon plan for operative bronchoscopy and safe removal of foreign body. 6-7
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