Tiresse Nabil, Elfathi Soufiane, Zegmout Adil, Elouazzani Hanane, Rhorfi Ismail
Department of Pneumology, Mohammed V Military Training Hospital, Rabat, MAR.
Cureus. 2025 Aug 27;17(8):e91114. doi: 10.7759/cureus.91114. eCollection 2025 Aug.
Foreign body aspiration is uncommon in adults compared to children. The aspiration of dental materials is a relatively rare event, whether it occurs during, or independently of, dental procedures. Its true incidence remains difficult to assess due to variations across reported studies. Such aspirations can lead to both immediate and delayed complications, including pneumonia, which may result in local or systemic consequences. We report a rare case of an unnoticed aspiration of a dental crown, discovered several months after inhalation. A 44-year-old male with a history of chronic tobacco use presented with chronic cough, recurrent episodes of bronchitis, and general health deterioration. Chest X-ray (frontal and lateral views) and thoracic computed tomography (CT) guided the diagnosis, which was subsequently confirmed via flexible bronchoscopy. Interestingly, the dental crown was spontaneously expectorated by the patient a few hours after the bronchoscopy. Follow-up imaging revealed persistent, irreversible parenchymal destruction, despite clinical improvement and resolution of recurrent bronchitis. From a theoretical standpoint, and according to the literature, rigid bronchoscopy remains the gold standard for the removal of aspirated dental materials. This case underscores the importance of considering foreign body aspiration in the differential diagnosis of recurrent respiratory infections and chronic bronchitis. It also highlights the value of standard chest imaging in the initial assessment, as well as the utility of flexible bronchoscopy outside of the acute setting.
与儿童相比，成人异物吸入并不常见。无论在牙科手术期间还是独立于牙科手术发生，牙科材料的吸入都是相对罕见的事件。由于报告研究之间存在差异，其真实发病率仍然难以评估。此类吸入可导致即时和延迟并发症，包括肺炎，这可能会导致局部或全身后果。我们报告一例罕见病例，一名患者在吸入牙冠数月后才被发现。一名有长期吸烟史的44岁男性出现慢性咳嗽、反复发作的支气管炎以及整体健康状况恶化。胸部X线（正位和侧位片）及胸部计算机断层扫描（CT）引导了诊断，随后通过可弯曲支气管镜检查得以确诊。有趣的是，支气管镜检查后数小时患者自行咳出了牙冠。随访影像学检查显示，尽管临床症状改善且反复发作的支气管炎得到缓解，但仍存在持续性、不可逆的实质破坏。从理论角度以及根据文献，硬质支气管镜检查仍然是取出吸入牙科材料的金标准。该病例强调了在复发性呼吸道感染和慢性支气管炎的鉴别诊断中考虑异物吸入的重要性。它还突出了标准胸部影像学检查在初始评估中的价值，以及可弯曲支气管镜检查在非急性情况下的作用。
