Migratory pharyngeal foreign bodies and related complications: Analysis of 20 cases

PurposeTo explore the diagnostic approach and therapeutic method of migratory pharyngeal foreign bodies and related complications, to improve the understanding of such disease and to reduce misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis.Material and methodsA retrospective study was performed by collecting patients who were treated because of the related complications caused by migratory pharyngeal foreign bodies from 2012 to 2020.ResultsA total of 20 patients were admitted to hospital due to the related complications. 14 cases showed cervical mass; 3 cases showed abscess of the mouth floor; 1 cases showed retropharyngeal abscess; 1 cases showed laryngeal granuloma; 1 cases showed mass of tongue. All patients received imaging examination of B-ultrasonography or computed tomography (CT). 19 patients were treated by surgery, and 1 patient was taken conservative treatment. All foreign bodies was successfully removed. As for the type of foreign bodies, there have 15 cases of fishbone, 2 cases of crabshell, 2 cases of shrimp shell, 1 cases of duck bone.ConclusionsMigrating foreign bodies and related complications are rare in clinic, much attention should be paid to avoid missed diagnosis or misdiagnosis.