Cricoid Calcification Mimicking an Impacted Foreign Body

Abstract

On the following day, the patient still complained of pain at the thyroid cartilage level. Repeat lateral neck radiography showed the same linear opacity. The possibility of a foreign body embedded in the hypopharyngeal mucosa could not be excluded. A computed tomography (CT) scan ofthe hypopharynx demonstrated a densely calcified ridge on the posterior lamina ofthe cricoid cartilage (Fig 2). No foreign body was shown on the cr scan.The patient was observed in the ward. He was able to eat normally. There was no symptom or sign suggestive of infection due to perforation of the digestive tract by any ingested foreign body. The CASE REPORTA 50-year-old man complained of severe throat pain at the level ofhis thyroid cartilage after swallowing a fish bone during his lunch on the same day. Clinical examination did not reveal any foreign body in his oropharynx or hypopharynx. Palpation of his larynx did not cause any tenderness. Radiography of his neck in the lateral view revealed a linear opacity posterior to the calcified cricoid cartilage. This linear opacity was not continuous with the cricoid cartilage calcification (Fig 1). It was determined that the patient had an impacted foreign body at the level of his cricopharyngeal sphincter. He was admitted for rigid esophagoscopy under general anesthesia to remove the ingested foreign body. At esophagoscopy, no Fig 1. Plain lateral neck radiograph showing calcified fi · bod fi d d all · ridge on cricoid posterior lamina appearing as linear oreigny was OUD an no mucos esion was opacity (wide arrow) separated from rest of cricoid calcifiseen. The procedure was terminated and the patient cation (narrow arrow). This linear opacity mimics inwas returned to the ward for observation. gested foreign body impacted at cricopharyngeus.

Vertical Cricoid Lamina Ossification: A Rare Pitfall in the Diagnosis of Extraluminal Foreign Body

“…The linear cricoid opacity of a physiological calcification is usually thin and never extends beyond the upper or lower cricoid borders, where as the linear opacification of an impacted foreign body may extend beyond the cricoid borders and may be irregular, depending on the shape of the foreign body. 7 Although, in our case, the linear opacification was between the level of the upper and lower borders of the cricoid cartilage on plain X-ray film, findings in CT scan was highly suggestive of an impacted foreign body in the post cricoid area. The CT scan of the cricoid cartilage showed a break between the densely calcified ridge and the rest of the calcified cricoid posterior lamina (see Fig.…”

Cricoid ridge ossification mimicking ingested fish bone on plain radiography: prevalence in Singapore

“…(4) In addition, in Page 7 of 12 our study, the most common location of cricoid ridge ossification was at the level of C6, with a mean length of 5.5 mm, and usually equal in density to the cervical vertebral cortex. In contrast, impacted fish bone may extend beyond the margins of the cricoid cartilage, and have irregular shape, thickness and density depending on the species of the fish partaken.…”

“…In contrast, impacted fish bone may extend beyond the margins of the cricoid cartilage, and have irregular shape, thickness and density depending on the species of the fish partaken. (4,14) In addition, impacted fish bone may cause secondary signs, such as widening of the prevertebral soft tissue.…”

Cricoid ossification mimicking an impacted foreign body

“…Ossifications of laryngeal cartilages are a physiological process, but there have been some reports of laryngeal ossification masquerading as foreign bodies of the upper digestive tract (2,3,4,5). Here we report a case of acute subglottic laryngitis masquerading as a foreign body at the level of the cricopharyngeus.…”

“…Here we report a case of acute subglottic laryngitis masquerading as a foreign body at the level of the cricopharyngeus. We could find only two previous descriptions of vertical ossification of the cricoid lamina mimicking an impacted foreign body (3,4).…”