Foreign body ingestion

Case contributed by Adam Eid Ramsey, MD
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

History of ingestion of 3 magnetic beads through her nose into her throat. She was playing with magnetic beads and tried to create a nose ring with them. She placed the 3 beads in her nostril and 1 outside, and accidentally snorted the 3 beads inside. She immediately felt the magnets pass through her throat.

Patient Data

Age: 10 years
Gender: Female

Initial study

x-ray

3 rounded radiopaque foreign bodies, appearing to represent beads, projecting in the region of the gastric antrum. 

3 hours post

x-ray

3 hours after the initial x-ray, the foreign body now appears to be in the 3rd portion of the duodenum. 

12 hours post

x-ray

12 hours after the initial x-ray, the foreign body projects over the right lower quadrant, likely within the ascending colon.

Case Discussion

This patient accidentally ingested 3 magnetic beads through her nose into her throat. She received an EGD that didn't locate the beads in her stomach secondary to them passing further down the GI tract. She received 4 caps of Miralax overnight which helped push the beads further down into the ascending colon. Final resolution to be determined.

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