Preliminary Diagnosis: Esophageal Foreign Bodies
I. What imaging technique is first-line for this diagnosis?
PA and lateral views of the chest.
II. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of this technique for diagnosing esophageal foreign bodies.
Advantages
-
Highly portable.
-
Relatively inexpensive.
-
Exposes patients to negligible ionizing radiation.
-
Highly sensitive and specific in localizing radiopaque foreign bodies.
Disadvantages
-
Less adept in detailing the surrounding anatomical structures and esophageal mucosa.
-
Less useful in treatment planning compared to fluoroscopic guided esophagram or cross sectional imaging.
III. What are the contraindications for the first-line imaging technique?
No specific contraindications to plain radiography exist.
IV. What alternative imaging techniques are available?
-
Contrasted fluoroscopic evaluation of the esophagus.
-
CT imaging of the chest and abdomen.
V. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of the alternative techniques for diagnosing esophageal foreign bodies.
Contrasted fluoroscopic evaluation of the esophagus
Advantages
-
Offers the capability of both diagnostic and therapeutic imaging simultaneously.
-
Exquisitely details the esophageal mucosa.
-
More sensitive and specific in detecting any secondary complications from foreign body presence.
Disadvantages
-
Highly operator dependent.
-
May expose patients to large amounts of ionizing radiation.
CT imaging of the chest and abdomen
Advantages
-
Highly sensitive and specific in detecting both radiolucent and radiopaque foreign bodies.
-
Offers exquisite detail of the primary process and any secondary complications.
-
May help guide treatment.
Disadvantages
-
Exposes patients to ionizing radiation.
VI. What are the contraindications for the alternative imaging techniques?
Contrasted fluoroscopic evaluation of the esophagus
May be contraindicated in pregnant patients.
CT imaging of the chest and abdomen
May be contraindicated in pregnant patients.
Copyright © 2017, 2013 Decision Support in Medicine, LLC. All rights reserved.
No sponsor or advertiser has participated in, approved or paid for the content provided by Decision Support in Medicine LLC. The Licensed Content is the property of and copyrighted by DSM.
