Extra Luminal Migration of Fishbone to the Spleen: A Complication of Foreign Body Ingestion

Abstract

                The ingestion of foreign bodies, either accidentally or intentionally, is a common complaint in the emergency department. Most patients may present with symptoms of upper airway obstruction if ingested into the trachea, while others may present with abdominal pain due to a gastrointestinal obstruction. Although relatively uncommon, some patients may be completely asymptomatic and complain of complications of ingestion. In rare instances, the foreign body may migrate and get encapsulated within other organs such as the spleen, lung, and liver. This case follows a 74-year-old male complaining of abdominal pain with a computed tomography (CT) finding showing encapsulated fish bone within the spleen.