Rafael Pimenta-Camilo, Department of Radiology, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Luis R. Marquez-Ferreira de Souza, Department of Radiology; Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Tamires Hortêncio-Alvarenga, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Felipe Alves-Nazario, Faculty of Medicine, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Foreign bodies (FBs) are objects that originate from outside the body and can be ingested or introduced voluntarily or involuntarily. Although common in the pediatric population, they are also prevalent in adults, especially in neglected populations. Due to the difficulty in obtaining information, imaging techniques play a key role in etiologic and topographic diagnosis, as certain materials may need to be removed immediately to avoid complications. FBs can be intraluminal, from ingestion or insertion, or extraluminal from other causes. In this pictorial essay, we describe the most common cases of intraluminal abdominal FBs in a tertiary care hospital and suggest investigative approaches in suspected cases. To identify a FB, a standard acute abdominal radiograph is first performed. If no FB is identified in suspected complications, the investigation continues with ultrasound (US) or computed tomography (CT), depending on the suspected material composition. Glass and plastic are usually not visible on X-rays; therefore, CT is the gold standard method. In contrast, metallic materials and animal bones are clearly visible on X-ray images. In such cases, CT is reserved for visualization of suspected perforations or infectious collections outside the intestinal loops. Imaging techniques are essential for diagnosis and management, and the indications and limitations of each method must be considered.
Keywords: Foreign bodies. Retained surgical objects. Foreign body. Bezoars.
