Detection of a fish bone in the cervical esophagus using point-of-care ultrasound

Case presentation We herein report the case of the accidental ingestion of a fish bone which was detected in the cervical esophagus by means of point-of-care ultrasound. A-70-year-old woman presented at the emergency department of our hospital with odynophagia in the neck after eating a slice of grunt (a type of fish) simmered in broth. Prior to this presentation she had already undergone direct laryngoscopy without any fish bone being identified at an otorhinolaryngology clinic. Point-of-care ultrasound was thereafter performed. As a result, a linear and hyperechoic structure was thus identified in the cervical esophagus. The structure did not seem to penetrate the wall of the esophagus. Computed tomography confirmed the same finding without any penetration. An endoscopic examination revealed a fish bone stuck in the cervical esophagus. The bone measured 17 mm in length, and was safely removed under endoscopic guidance. Subsequently the patient demonstrated a good recovery without any complications.