Diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of a “minimally invasive penetrating foreign body”: a case report

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Failure to diagnose and treat esophageal foreign bodies can lead to life-threatening complications, including perforation and mediastinal sepsis.
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A 58-year-old female presented with odynophagia after ingesting a fish bone, with initial assessments failing to identify the foreign body.
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Cervical computed tomography identified a 2.5-cm foreign body penetrating the esophageal wall, which was not found during initial endoscopy or surgical exploration.
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The fish bone was successfully extracted through a repeated endoscopic procedure, emphasizing the effectiveness of meticulous endoscopy over surgical exploration.
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This case highlights the diagnostic challenges of minimally invasive penetrating foreign bodies and the importance of timely intervention to prevent complications.

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