Foreign Bodies: Retained Items Ranging From Insignificant to Life-Threatening

Abstract

Foreign bodies (FBs) may pose diagnostic difficulty to radiologists for a number of reasons, as the unaccustomed items, though not uncommon, can often comprise incidental or unexpected findings on the radiologic evaluation, inappropriate position of variable objects can be deliberate, accidental or due to assault, and urgent discovery of the potentially harmful material can be challenging. Because FBs can practically be found in all major organ systems of the human body and may occasionally intimidate normal activity and function, early and specific diagnosis can have a significant impact on treatment—that is where radiologists play a vital role helping the clinicians avoid unproductive diagnostic odysseys.