Recently, the hazards posed by the accidental ingestion and impaction of small disc batteries have been widely publicized in the medical and lay press. These foreign bodies, when lodged in the esophagus, leak a caustic solution of 26 to 45% sodium or potassium hydroxide which can cause a burn injury to the esophagus in a very short period of time. Because of the considerable clinical morbidity and mortality from this foreign body, it becomes imperative for the radiologist to quickly and accurately identify disc batteries on plain radiographs. This communication offers a series of radiologic signs important in the identification of disc batteries. When viewed in an anterior projection, disc batteries demonstrate a double density shadow due to the bilaminar structure of the battery. On lateral view, the edges of most disc batteries are round and again present a step-off at the junction of the cathode and anode. These findings are differentiated from the more common esophageal foreign body of a coin which does not have a double density on frontal projection, has a much sharper edge and no visible step-off.

Torsion of the free end of the falciform ligament is an extremely rare cause of localized peritonitis. A surgically proven case is presented here, with ultrasound and CT findings and a review of the published work.

Case reports of 3 patients seen with a bluish mass behind the tympanic membrane are presented. The initial diagnosis was probable glomus tumor. In 1 patient, middle ear exploration confirmed the presence of a high-lying jugular bulb. In the other 2, venography demonstrated that the jugular bulb projected superiorly into the middle ear cavity. In all 3, polytomography demonstrated a dehiscence of the bony septum which normally separates the jugular bulb from the hypotympanum. When a bony dehiscence is seen in the absence of destructive changes, a diagnosis of aberrant jugular bulb is strongly suggested.

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