Foreign Bodies

Question 1

What are examples of organic foreign bodies?

Answer 1

Thorns, wood, bee stingers

Question 2

What are examples of inorganic foreign bodies?

Answer 2

Plastic, metal, glass, gravel, graphite (man-made)

Question 3

What are examples of metallic foreign bodies?

Answer 3

Fish hooks, wire, needles

Question 4

Radiolucent vs radiopaque

Answer 4

Radiolucent - allowed x-ray transmission and appears DARK on radiograph

Radiopaque - does not allow x-ray transmission and appears bright on radiograph

Question 5

What is the most commonly used imaging modality for the evaluation of foreign bodies in the ER?

Answer 5

Radiography

Question 6

Compare radiopaque and radiolucent objects. Which one has high sensitivity vs low sensitivity

Answer 6

Radiopaque - high sensitivity - appears white on x-ray

Radiolucent - low sensitivity - appears dark on x-ray

Question 7

On x-ray what objects are radiopaque vs radiolucent?

Answer 7

Radiopaque - gravel, glass, metal

Radiolucent - wood, plastic, other organic materials

Question 8

What are the ages of a foreign body?

Answer 8

Acute - less than 3 days
Intermediate - 3-10 days
Chronic - greater than 10 days

Question 9

What are the sonographic features pertaining to the age of a FB?

Answer 9

Acute: Echogenic structure with shadowing (air). Hypoechoic halo form due to inflammation after 24 hours

Intermediate: Air replaced with fluid. Pronounced hypoechoic halo. May be hyperemic

Chronic: “Walling off” granular material surrounds FB - may have a pronounced shadow

Question 10

What is the most common complication of a foreign body?

Answer 10

Infection