Vol.97 No.11
contentsPRACTICA OTO-RHINO-LARYNGOLOGICA
Vol. 97 No.11 November 2004
Two Cases of Denture Foreign Body in the
Esophagus in the Aged with Mental Disorder
Satoshi Ohno, Makoto Miura and Kazuyuki Ichimaru
(Toyooka Hospital)
Two cases of denture foreign body in the esophagus were reported.
A 74-year-old male with dementia due to Alzheimer's disease suddenly complained of dysphagia. A chest X-ray displayed a denture lodged in the esophagus, but the denture was not noticed at that time. Because he subsequently suffered from secondary aspiration pneumonia, he underwent tracheostomy and percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy. After 3 years, by chance, the denture foreign body was detected by gastro-intestinal fiberscopy. His family did not consent to the removal of the foreign body.
A 65-year-old male with mental retardation suddenly complained of dysphagia. A chest X-ray revealed a denture lodged in the esophagus the next day. The denture was removed under esophagoscopy with a Verda dilation laryngoscope without any complications.
When the aged suddenly complain of dysphagia, presence of a foreign body in the esophagus should be ruled out, even if they are not aware of misswallowing foreign bodies.
Key words : denture, foreign body, esophagus