Uncommon cases of foreign bodies in the esophagus--duplex coins.

Two cases of multiple foreign bodies, i. e., duplex coins in the esophagus are reported. These foreign bodies were removed by peroral esophagoscopy successfully. Significance of roentgenray diagnosis is emphasized, and subtle and yet specific roentgenograms of duplex coins in the esophagus are illustrated. ∗PMID: 4254202 [PubMed indexed for MEDLINE] Copyright c ©OKAYAMA UNIVERSITY MEDICAL SCHOOL Acta Med. Okayama 24, 483-487 (1970) UNCOMMON CASES OF FOREIGN BODIES IN THE ESOPHAGUS DUPLEX COINS Yoshio OGURA and Seido TAsAKA Department oj Oto-Rhino-Laryngology, Okayama University Medical School, Okayama, Japan (Director: Prof. S. Takahara) Received jor publication, June 14, 1970 Although a coin is the most common foreign body to become lodged in the esophagus, its multiple occurrence seems to be rare. We wish to record two cases of two coins lodged in the esophagus, one in the upper esophagus and the other above the third esophageal constriction. Case l. T. N., a boy, two and a half years old was admitted to the hospital on July 21, 1965. His mother gave a history of the boy having swallowed a coin one hour before his admission. An attempt to have him cough it out was not successful. Physical Examination: On inspection the child looked pale and appeared to be in slight distress. His breathing was normal. There was no cough. The rest of the examination was within normal limits. Roentgenogram showed a round shadow just below the cricopharyngeal pinchcock, (Fig. 1). The shadow was coin-sized but slightly elongated with some indistinct shadow at the upper and lower edges. This was suggestive of the possibility of multiple coins, one on top of the other. A lateral projection gave no additional information. Esophagoscopy: Upon esophagoscopic inspection two ten-yen copper coins were lodged one on top of the other at the site, corresponding to the X-ray film. The invading objects were tightly impacted in the esophageal wall. They were removed one at a time (Fig. 2). Case 2. M. M. An eight-year-old boy was admitted to the hospital on August 27, 1965 with a history of having accidentally swallowed coins while playing with them in his mouth for two hours prior to his admission. The history given by the family shed no additional light as to the possibility of multiple foreign bodies. 483 1 Oguri and Tasaka: Uncommon cases of foreign bodies in the esophagus--duplex coins Produced by The Berkeley Electronic Press, 1970 484 Y. OeDRA, and S. TASAKA Fig. I Roentgenogram or coin in esophagus, Case I, 2 -§-year old boy.