Elsevier

Auris Nasus Larynx

Volume 33, Issue 1, March 2006, Pages 113-116
Auris Nasus Larynx

A case of migratory fish bone in the thyroid gland

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anl.2005.09.013Get rights and content

Abstract

Fish-bone foreign bodies represent a common condition readily identified in the pharynx. We encountered a case of fish bone in the thyroid gland. Only three other such cases have been reported in the English-language literature. This foreign body was identified by computed tomography and ultrasonography 16 days after onset, and removed through a cervical skin incision. The diagnosis and treatment of extrapharyngeal foreign bodies are discussed.

Introduction

Fish-bone foreign bodies are usually found in the pharynx, and in most cases are easily removed. Location of a fish-bone foreign body outside the pharynx is relatively rare. We report herein a case of migratory fish bone in the thyroid gland that was removed through a cervical skin incision. The diagnosis and treatment of extrapharyngeal foreign bodies are also discussed.

Section snippets

Case report

A 61-year-old woman presented to the ENT outpatient clinic complaining of dysphagia. Past medical history included adenomatous goiter. Thyroid function was within normal limits and no treatment had been administered. The patient reported that dysphagia developed shortly after eating fish. No pathological findings were seen in the oral cavity or pharynx on direct visualization or fiberscopic examination. Plain-film lateral radiography of the neck revealed no abnormalities (Fig. 1A). The patient

Discussion

Fish-bone foreign bodies are a common finding. In most cases, bones are readily identified in the palatine tonsil, radix linguae or hypopharynx, and are subsequently removed through the oral cavity. Fish-bone foreign bodies penetrating into the extrapharyngeal space are relatively rare, and most are identified in retropharyngeal soft tissues such as the peripharyngeal muscles, prevertebral space or prevertebral muscle. Forward movement of the foreign body into the pharynx is quite unusual, as

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