[Ultrasound versus abdominal visualization of a problem abdomen in a young patient? An unusual cause of epigastric pain].

The case of a 24-year-old woman with epigastric pain is reported. A past history of slight abdominal pain for 4 weeks was recorded in the patient's history; no other illnesses were reported. Sonography revealed an unrecognizable longitudinal structure and extraenteric fluid. In view of the patient's age and the possibility of a pregnancy an abdominal X-ray examination was performed 3 h after admission, revealing a foreign body in the duodenum. A 15-cm-long pencil was removed by surgical operation; it had penetrated the duodenum with its hard end.