Cleft palate secondary to an ingested foreign body: a learning experience.

BACKGROUND

Cleft palate has usually been described as a congenital anomaly. Acquired clefting of the palate is rare and is usually due to penetrating trauma.

OBJECTIVE

To report a case of cleft palate developing after ingestion of a coin due to prolonged impaction in the nasopharynx.

CASE REPORT

A 4 1/2-year-old child presented with nasal regurgitation and nasal twang of voice. The parents reported a history of ingestion of a coin 2 years prior, which was undetectable on neck and chest X-ray study done at that time. Examination revealed a triangular cleft of soft palate. A diagnosis was made of an acquired cleft palate secondary to prolonged impaction of the coin in the nasopharynx. Under general anesthesia, the palatal defect was repaired in three layers.

CONCLUSION

The case highlights the fact that ingested foreign bodies can get lodged in the nasopharynx and that nasopharynx X-ray study should always be done in cases of a disappearing foreign body in the aerodigestive tract.