Use of the transmitter-receiver metal detector in the evaluation of pediatric coin ingestions

Handheld Metal Detector Confirmation of Radiopaque Foreign Bodies in the Esophagus

“…The sole failure of the Garrett Super Scanner was in a child with a rectal coin in whom management was not likely to be affected. 10 Biehler et al 11 reported sensitivity and specificity of 100% in detecting 27 coins in 30 cases of suspected coin ingestion. They correctly identified 13 cervical esophageal, 4 middle-to-lower esophageal, and 10 subdiaphragmatic coins.…”

“…Our review of the literature found no studies comparing the accuracy or sensitivity of different HHMDs. While several investigators 9,10,13,15 used the same Garrett Super Scanner used in the present study, other devices used included the EBEX 610 (Ebiner, Kö ln, Germany), 8 model 2000 (White's Electronics, Inc, Sweet Home, Ore), 8 Backpacker-2 TR (AH Electronics, Inc, Arlington Heights, Ill), 11 Enforcer G2 (Garrett Security Systems), 13 and AD 15 (Adams Electronics, Inc, East Sussex, England, and Enid, Okla). 14 It is our impression that smaller, more sen- Figure 1.…”

Diagnostic uses of metal detectors: a review

“…The first studies specifically of metal detectors in paediatric coin ingestion were published by Ros and Cetta in 1992 (20,21). To date, 11 studies comparing the results of radiographs vs. scans with various models of hand‐held metal detectors for the evaluation of children with suspected coin ingestions have been published (21–31). These studies typically report the ability to determine the absence or presence of a coin and to localise a coin to either the oesophagus or the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract.…”

“…These studies typically report the ability to determine the absence or presence of a coin and to localise a coin to either the oesophagus or the lower gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Sensitivity for coin detection with utilisation of a metal detector is 91–100% and its specificity is 75–100% (21–25,27–31). Sensitivity of coin localisation as oesophageal vs. non‐oesophageal is reported as 91–100% and its reported specificity is 90–100% (21–23,28–31).…”

“…Sensitivity for coin detection with utilisation of a metal detector is 91–100% and its specificity is 75–100% (21–25,27–31). Sensitivity of coin localisation as oesophageal vs. non‐oesophageal is reported as 91–100% and its reported specificity is 90–100% (21–23,28–31). The usual approach to a child with suspected coin ingestion is to remove all metal, such as clothing with zippers, from the patient and the nearby area, then to slowly scan the patient's chest, abdomen, back, flanks and perineum.…”