Foreign Bodies in the Abdominal Area: Review of the Literature

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to update and summarize the relevant literature on the anatomical localization, incidence, and diagnostic and therapeutic approaches to abdominal foreign bodies. A comprehensive review was carried out on recorded cases related to the presence of foreign bodies in the abdominal area throughout the literature. Moreover, the phenomenon was discussed in relation to different patient categories associated with childhood, mental or neurological illness, incarceration, and drug trafficking as well as sexual accident or abuse. Particular importance is ascribed to the underlying psychopathology and motivation of foreign body ingestion in each category of patients. The surgical, psychiatric and legal implications of the issue are discussed in detail.

Non-traumatic adult acute abdomen with high-attenuation lesions or materials in the gastrointestinal tract on unenhanced computed tomography

“…The ingestion of foreign bodies mainly occurs in the paediatric population, elderly population, and psychiatric and neurological patients. [ 10 ] Foreign bodies that pass through the oesophagus into the stomach and pylorus are automatically excreted in 80% to 98% of cases, whereas only 1% of cases will cause serious complications, including intestinal obstruction and perforation. [ 10 ] Common foreign bodies are press-through packages (PTPs) and dental prostheses in adults.…”

“…[ 10 ] Foreign bodies that pass through the oesophagus into the stomach and pylorus are automatically excreted in 80% to 98% of cases, whereas only 1% of cases will cause serious complications, including intestinal obstruction and perforation. [ 10 ] Common foreign bodies are press-through packages (PTPs) and dental prostheses in adults. [ 10 ] The insertion of foreign bodies into the anus and rectum is another cause of acute abdomen [ Figure 8 ].…”

“…[ 10 ] Common foreign bodies are press-through packages (PTPs) and dental prostheses in adults. [ 10 ] The insertion of foreign bodies into the anus and rectum is another cause of acute abdomen [ Figure 8 ]. CT attenuations of foreign bodies can differ: some materials are difficult to detect on CT, whereas foreign bodies made of metal can be easily identified because of their extremely high attenuation [ Figure 9 ].…”

Mysterious ureteral migration of a wooden toothpick from the digestive tract: case report and diagnostic considerations

“…(1) They can be intentionally inserted as a consequence of psychiatric disturbances or as a mean of sexual stimulation. (2) There are also some reports of foreign bodies that migrated from one organ to another. Sometimes this migration occurs through intriguing paths.…”

“…Sometimes this migration occurs through intriguing paths. (2,3) We report an unusual case of ureteral obstruction from a swallowed toothpick that migrated from the digestive tract the left ureter with protrusion into the bladder, and a discussion is provided of the best imaging approach when wooden toothpicks are suspected.…”