Esophageal perforation by a tooth in child abuse.

A unique case of child abuse in a six-year-old Hispanic girl is reported. In this case, a tooth avulsed and swallowed during an episode of physical abuse and/or sexual abuse, caused an esophageal perforation resulting in a retropharyngeal abscess and mediastinal abscess containing the tooth. Although traumatic esophageal injuries in child abuse have occurred, the presence of a tooth within the mediastinal abscess is an unique manifestation of child abuse.