Extraluminal foreign body after ingestion

A 38-year-old patient consulted for pain in the left hypochondrium one week after the accidental ingestion of an orthodontic wire. The abdominal X-ray apparently showed a radiopaque image in the colon without pneumoperitoneum (Fig. 1a).

Fig. 1

Due to persistent pain, a CT scan was performed, which revealed an extraluminal foreign body anterior to the greater gastric curvature, between the hepatic angle of the colon and the left hepatic lobe, without pneumoperitoneum or free fluid (Fig. 1b).

The foreign body was removed laparoscopically without incident (Fig. 1c).

In the case of accidental ingestion of foreign bodies, the CT scan pinpoints their location and complications.

Diagnosis: extraluminal foreign body.