Imaging of Unusual Ingested Multiple Stones in a Child: A Case Report

Abstract

Ingested foreign bodies (FBs) in children are a common referral for imaging examinations in paediatric hospitals. Most ingested FBs pass without any intervention or complications. In a few cases, they can cause significant complications such as obstruction, bleeding, perforation, fistulisation, sepsis and death.  Therefore, early patient presentation to the medical facility, diagnosis and management are crucial to avoid associated complications and death. Imaging plays an essential role in diagnosing, monitoring and treating ingested FBs. Most ingested radiopaque FBs are identified using plain film radiography. In the case of radiolucent FBs and complications, ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) imaging examinations are used. In this case report, we report an unusual imaging of a 2-year-old boy who was diagnosed with multiple stones in the colon and rectum. Without clinical information on the radiology request form (RRF) and the absence of the radiologist, the radiographic appearance of multiple stones in the colon and rectum could easily be mistaken for residual barium sulphate from barium studies. This dilemma shows the importance of correlating radiographic features with clinical findings during radiographic image interpretation.