PMC3618044_01
In a plain neck lateral film, an approximately 2-cm-sized radiopaque linear flat foreign body (arrow) at the level of the 6th and 7th cervical vertebrae could be clearly identified. No bony or soft tissue abnormalities were demonstrated.
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F1
Plain neck films demonstrated an approximately 2-cm-sized radiopaque linear flat object in front of the 6th and 7th cervical vertebrae, which was only visible on lateral projection (fig. 1).
Cervicothoracic computed tomography showed a highly attenuated, bone like, thin linear material impacted inside the cervical esophagus at the level of 6th to 7th cervical vertebrae. There were no definite complications caused by foreign body impaction, such as perforation and abscess.
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F2
Cervicothoracic computed tomography revealed a highly attenuated thin linear foreign body impacted in the esophagus at the level of the 6th to 7th cervical vertebrae (fig. 2).
Esophagoscopy demonstrated a blackish fragment impacted in the esophagus. The piece of the shell was impacted tightly and did not move easily when the endoscopist touched it with a forceps. We used a bag when extracting the shell to avoid damaging the esophagus and upper esophageal sphincter.
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F3
The shell appeared nonobstructive but was impacted within the mucosal surface of the mid-esophagus (fig. 3).
The extracted piece of mussel shell had a triangular shape with very sharp edges. The shell was about 2 cm in size. These sharp edges may cause serious pain and tight impaction in the esophagus.
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F4
The removed shell was about a 2-cm-sized triangle with sharp edges (fig. 4).