A ring-shaped gas sign: a case of the accidental ingestion of a press-through package.

Abstract

This case report presents a common but instructive clinical scenario of accidental ingestion of a press-through package. Despite an initial negative chest X-ray and mild symptoms, the diagnosis was confirmed with additional computed tomography. The patient was eventually went through the successful endoscopic removal of the press-through package. Furthermore, a retrospective re-reviewing of the X-ray revealed a faint ring-shaped gas sign, characteristic of press-through package ingestion. This case underscores the intractableness to diagnosis of accidental ingestion of press-through package by only X-rays in real time and the potential role of computed tomography in ensuring timely diagnosis and treatment.