Spontneous Elimination of Inhaled Grass Inflorescences Through the Lung and Chest Wall

Migration of an aspirated grass inflorescence through the chest wall in a 3‐year‐old boy

“…1 Conversely, aspiration of longitudinal organic foreign bodies, such as grass inflorescence, occurs infrequently, despite grass being indigenous and ubiquitous. The structure of aspirated grass determines their behavior and the pathological changes they cause in the respiratory tract 2,3 ; specifically, "lodging" and "extrusive" types of grass spikes were described by Jackson. 4 A 3-year-old boy was admitted because of a persistent cough of Infiltrate of the left lower lobe could be seen on repeat CT scan, with improved aeration of the previously noted infiltrated segments ( Figure 1B).…”

Case 33-1997

“…In some cases, it even penetrates the pleura and chest wall and may be eliminated spontaneously through the skin. 22,23 Inspired inflorescence occurs predominantly in children. In a typical case, a child plays in the grass; picks, sucks, and then aspirates a blade of the grass; and has a fever, a cough, and hemoptysis weeks or months later.…”

“…In a typical case, a child plays in the grass; picks, sucks, and then aspirates a blade of the grass; and has a fever, a cough, and hemoptysis weeks or months later. 21,22,24 An inspired inflorescence may be difficult to see during bronchoscopy, partly because the posterior-pointing spines do not appear as solid objects. Other inspired objects that have burrowed into the lung like an arrow because of their shape are an aspirated plastic coffee straw with a chewed end 25 and the plastic top of a ballpoint pen with a chewed end.…”

“…In children, the foreign material often migrates through the lung, pleura, and chest wall and is spontaneously eliminated. 22,23,29 Prompt surgical intervention with the newest techniques undoubtedly interrupted the process in this patient.…”

A chest wall swelling due to inhaled grass

“…Of these thirty-five cases, the inflorescence had reached the subcutaneous tissue in twenty-eight. Choremis et al (1964) described two cases which had followed a similar course and reviewed forty-five cases of grass inhalation. A further case was described by Naylor (1966).…”