Foreign Body Ingestion Followed by Appendiceal Perforation

Abstract

Background: Foreign body ingestion is very common among specific groups, especially children. However, appendicitis and perforated appendix caused by a foreign body is rare. Case summary. A 40-year-old female presented with abdominal pain in the right lower quadrant of 10 days duration after accidentally ingesting a drilling bit during a dental procedure. She had right iliac fossa tenderness on physical examination. X-ray showed a pointed long metal object in the right lower quadrant. A contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan of the abdomen revealed a pointed metal object in the pelvis with inconclusive location. Diagnostic laparoscopy showed an inflamed appendix with the tip of the metal object perforating it. Appendectomy was performed. Histopathology showed an inflamed appendix.

Conclusion: Foreign bodies that cause appendicitis are rare. However, they may become lodged at any site of the gastrointestinal tract and cause inflammation or perforation. This is a bizarre case of foreign body-induced appendicitis with perforation.

Figure 1

Two abdominal X-ray images of the patient. On the right, abdominal X-ray on first day of foreign body ingestion. On the left, 10 days after foreign body ingestion. Both images shows a right lower quadrant pointed metal object.

Figure 2

The inflamed appendix and the metal object penetrating from it.

Figure 3

Inflamed appendix and the metal object.