- To review the spectrum of complications and mechanisms of damages due to the ingestion of sharp, elongated foreign bodies diagnosed by CT-scan in “Mother Teresa” University Hospital. - To discuss the role of CT scan in diagnosis.

The majority of swallowed objects pass through the gastrointestinal tract without any complication (1). Nevertheless, elongated objects may cause severe, sometimes fatal, internal injuries due to gastrointestinal perforation and migration to adjacent structures (2,3). In many cases, the object may partially perforate the bowel wall and produce a chronic inflammatory process that has few symptoms, being discovered months or years later (4). It often causes confusion at presentation and can masquerade as a lot of differential diagnoses.

This study is based on CT scans, collected in the department of Radiology (Polyvalent and Emergency divisions) for the last 3 years. Types of ingestions: -Accidental -Intentional Risk factors: -Pre-existing digestive tract pathology such as: strictures, malignancy, esophageal rings, achalasia, eosinophilic esophagitis (5, 6). -Physiologically narrow parts of the gastrointestinal tract that make the passage of ingested body difficult are sites for foreign body impaction (7, 8). -Age, infants aged six months to three years and elderly people (9). -Dentures -Mental retardation, psychiatric disorders, alcohol...

Sharp objects, when swallowed can cause different kind of damages and different clinical presentations. CT-scan has an important role in diagnostication.

A. Hasa; Tirana/AL - nothing to disclose R. Osmenaj; Tirana/AL - nothing to disclose A. Llukacaj; Tirana/AL - nothing to disclose [email protected]

[1] Kimbrell FT Jr, Tepas JJ 3d, Mullen JT. Chicken bone perforation of the sigmoid colon: a report of three cases. Am Surg 1975; 41(12): 814-7. [2] Li SF, Ender K. Toothpick injury mimicking renal colic: case report and systematic review. J Emerg Med. 2002; 23:35–38. [3] Tonkic A, Kulic D, Peric M, Tonkic M, Bogdanovic Z. Bacteremia caused by a swallowed toothpick impacted in the gastric mucosa. Case Rep Gastroenterol. 2011; 5:227–231. [4] Hunter, T.B., Taljanovic, M.S. Foreign bodies. Radiographics. 2003; 23:731–757. [5] Sung,...