Perforation of the gastrointestinal tract caused by inadvertent ingestion of blister pill packs: report of two cases diagnosed by MDCT with emphasis on maximal intensity and volume rendering reformations

Abstract

We report two cases of elderly patients presenting with life-threatening complications due to inadvertent accidental ingestion of blister pill packs (BPPs). The first patient presented with obstruction followed by anemia and finally perforation of the small bowel. The second presented with rapidly lethal mediastinitis due to a large perforation of the lower esophagus. The responsible BPPs were identified by multidetector computed tomography and the best result in their characterization was obtained through maximal intensity projections and volume rendering reformations.