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Stone foreign body—radiographic and CT appearance

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Abstract

Mineral foreign bodies (stones) are infrequent findings in clinical and radiological practice. However, a growing number of reports indicate that they raise clinical and diagnostic concern in ophthalmology, neurosurgery, maxillofacial surgery, otolaryngology, gastroenterology, and vascular surgery. Dense finding in the soft tissue without clear history of foreign body penetration may represent diagnostic challenge mimicking calcifications or bony fragments. The aim of this work is to analyze the appearance of stone foreign bodies on radiographs and computed tomography. A collection of minerals and rocks was used for analysis. The clinical case of a stony foreign body which penetrated into the soft tissue of the leg is used to demonstrate the diagnostic challenge and management. Available literature describing imaging characteristics of stones was reviewed. The results of this work will help in diagnostic interpretation and assessment of stone foreign body composition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, McMaster University Medical Centre, 1200 Main St. West, Hamilton, ON, L8N 3Z5, Canada

    Zeev V. Maizlin, Nida S. Syed & Rahul S. Anaspure

  2. Department of Orthopedic Surgery, McMaster University Medical Centre, Hamilton, ON, Canada

    Jung Y. Mah

  3. Department of Radiology, St. Paul’s Hospital, Vancouver, BC, Canada

    Patrick M. Vos, Alex Lee & Jason J. Clement

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  1. Zeev V. Maizlin
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  2. Patrick M. Vos
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  3. Alex Lee
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  4. Nida S. Syed
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  5. Rahul S. Anaspure
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  6. Jung Y. Mah
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  7. Jason J. Clement
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Correspondence to Zeev V. Maizlin.

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Maizlin, Z.V., Vos, P.M., Lee, A. et al. Stone foreign body—radiographic and CT appearance. Emerg Radiol 19, 317–322 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-012-1031-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10140-012-1031-6

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