Foreign body: A sewing needle migrating from the gastrointestinal tract to pancreas

Abstract

Of all ingested foreign bodies, 2.4% comprise of sewing needles. Through perforation of gastrointestinal tract, which occurs in 1% of cases, they can migrate into the liver and pancreas. Foreign bodies in pancreas should be considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic abdominal pain. Computed tomography scans provide valuable information for the localization of the lesion, which guide the surgeon during the operation. Secondary to foreign bodies that migrate to the pancreas, complications with high mortality such as pancreatitis, pseudoaneurysm, and pancreas abscess can be seen. Thus, for this patient group, diagnostic laparoscopy is recommended, considering its advantages of decreased postoperative pain, decreased wound infection, and faster recovery time. Here we present a case of a 23-year-old female patient, from whom an ingested needle that migrated from the back wall of the stomach to the pancreas was extracted by laparoscopic surgery.

Keywords: Sewing needle; laparoscopy; pancreas.

Figure 1

a, b. (a) Normal standing x-ray and (b) stomach passage x-ray and foreign body

Figure 2

a, b. (a) Abdominal CT and (b) metallic foreign body

Figure 3

a, b. (a) Metallic foreign body and (b) postoperative day four