PERFORATION OF THE SMALL INTESTINE BY A FISH BONE: CASE REPORT

Abstract

A 69-year-old man had a checkup to a neighboring hospital in September 25th, 2002 because of having been a right lower abdominal pain for three days. It was diagnosed as acute appendicitis. Then he was prescribed medicine for it and came home. After he returned to a house, the pain appeared again. He went back to the hospital and was transported to our hospital for the purpose of a surgery. An abdominal X-rays didn't show any free air and abnormal shadow. An abdominal Computed Tomography (CT) examination revealed a low density mass in the cecum, and a linear high density was recognized inside. The patient was diagnosed preoperatively as perforation of the small intestine by fish bone and then urgently underwent surgery on same day. At laparotomy the absess was found out, which was formed after the fish bone perforated the small intestine. Then a partial resection of small intestine was done. As for this case, a preoperative diagnosis was possible by medical history hearing from a patient and careful interpretation of CT image.