Abstract
A 69-year-old woman, who had been treated with an acupuncture needle in the past, had been diagnosed with an abdominal foreign body, which was characterized by pieces of metal on radiographic examination. The metallic foreign body had been present for a few years, with no intervention, until X-ray examinations performed at a local clinic showed that the foreign material had migrated. On review of the migration of the foreign material, the patient was referred to our hospital. Abdominal X-rays showed fragmented, radiopaque, slender objects located on the left side of the abdomen. Computed tomography showed high-density, small pieces of the foreign object, located in the left paracolic gutter, as well as gallbladder stones. Laparoscopic cholecystectomy and extirpation of the foreign body were performed using the same four ports via fluoroscopy. The foreign bodies were easy to break into multiple fragments ; therefore, they were removed in seven pieces. No remnant foreign material remained ; this was confirmed using fluoroscopy. Since metallic foreign bodies may migrate and lead to injury of abdominal organs, or become corroded, early surgical intervention is recommended.
