Bullet in the pharynx: endoscopic management.

Abstract

Gunshot wounds of the neck are diagnostically and therapeutically challenging cases and treatment should be individualized and multidisciplinary. We present an unusual case of bullet injury to the neck. A fourteen year old male patient sustained an accidental bullet injury to the submental area of the neck, with no serious injuries to the vital structures. The bullet was found close to the epiglottis, embedded in the pharynx between the base of the tongue and the lower pole of the left tonsil. The patient underwent successful endoscopic removal with no serious postoperative complications. In this paper, this case is discussed, its presentation and management, together with literature review.