Unusual presentation of foreign body in larynx

Abstract EN

Purpose: Foreign body aspiration is very common in paediatric age group specially 6 months to 4 years of age, but it is relatively unusual entity amongst adult population unless predisposing factor like alcohol or drug intoxication or psychiatric illness.

We are reporting a case of foreign body (sewing needle) aspiration which penetrated through thyroid cartilage anteriorly by its blunt end just above the level of anterior commissure and presented with subcutaneous midline neck swelling, pain and haemoptysis.

Patient and method: The study is a case report who presented to the Emergency Department of Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

All clinical details of the patient were collected and relevant medical literature was reviewed.

Result and conclusion: Foreign body aspiration may present as acute development of swelling due to its penetration or extraluminal migration.