Diagnosis of Hypopharyngeal and Esophageal Foreign Bodies with Multi-slice Spiral Computed Tomography

  Objective  To explore the radiological findings and diagnostic points of hypopharyngeal and esophageal foreign bodies with multi-slice spiral computed tomography (MSCT).

  Methods  The medical records and CT images of 25 emergency patients with clinically confirmed hypopharyngeal and esophageal foreign bodies were retrospectively analyzed. The location and morphology of the foreign bodies on multi-slice spiral CT images were observed. The longitudinal diameter of the foreign body and the distance from the center of the foreign body to the lower margin of the cricoid cartilage were measured. The margin of the esophagus, the relationship of the foreign body and its neighboring structures, and the existence of pneumoderma and mediastinal emphysema were evaluated.

  Results  The location, size and their relationship with the surrounding anatomical structures of all the hypopharyngeal and esophageal foreign bodies were clearly shown by multi-slice spiral CT. Most of the foreign bodies located in the junction of the hypopharynx and the esophagus and the cervical esophagus. The average length of the foreign bodies was (20.4±7.4) mm (range 5.4 to 42.0mm), while the mean distance from the center of the foreign body to the lower margin of the cricoid cartilage was (13.1±17.0) mm (range-5.0 to 30.0 mm). The foreign bodies of 12 cases located transversely, that of 10 cases located obliquely, while that of 3 cases located vertically. One case showed a poor margin of the esophagus, and one case has pneumoderma and mediastinal emphysema.

  Conclusions  Multi-slice spiral CT can provide clear radiological information for the clinical extraction of foreign bodies by displaying their location, size, and their relationship with the surrounding anatomical structures.