Esophageal impact of shrimp tails.

A 56-year-old woman was referred to our department by an otolaryngologist due to dysphagia without otolaryngeal findings. Dysphagia and severe swallowing pain began just after eating sushi (swallowed with a shrimp tail) one day before the patient’s visit. Emergency esophagoscopy revealed a foreign body stuck in the thoracic esophagus (Picture 1a). A lump of rice with a shrimp tail at the distal side, which was not detected on endoscopy, was successfully removed (Picture 1b). A mucosal tear was found following removal of the foreign body (Picture 1c). Plain chest CT showed esophageal wall thickening (arrow in Picture 2). A recent report has demonstrated coins to be the primary foreign bodies found in children, whereas bones and dentures are predominant in adults (1). Fish bones and fruit pits are particularly dangerous due to their sharp tip and should be rapidly removed (2). Shrimp tails can cause esophageal injury and mediastinitis and should be removed as quickly as possible.