Abstract
We reviewed 13 cases of foreign body in the pharynx or esophagus that were removed by an external incision of the neck. Fish bones were found in 6 cases, dentures in 5 cases, a needle in 1 case and a wrist watch in 1 case. The foreign body was arrested at the entrace of the esophagus in 5 cases, the cervical esophagus in 3 cases, the extra hypopharynx in 3 cases, and was found penetrating the geniohyoid muscle in 1 case and the anterior vertebra fascia in 1 case. In 2 patients with a fish bone foreign body, an abscess formation was found. However, no relation was found the length of stay time the fish bones had been present. As all of patients with denture foreign bodies had mental disease, careful management of dentures against the misswallowing is strongly recommended.
