The role of CT imaging in the evaluation of cervical esophageal foreign bodies.

Foreign bodies in the hypopharynx and cervical esophagus, such as chicken and fish bones, occur frequently and usually need radiologic work-up in order to demonstrate the presence of the foreign body and its location. Plain antero-posterior and lateral X-ray views of the neck, and if needed, a barium swallow, are the standard. When these studies fail to show the foreign body, unenhanced CT may demonstrate these small calcified esophageal foreign bodies. We evaluated 13 patients with cervical esophageal foreign bodies by CT. It is readily available and rapid and exposes the patient to less radiation than a barium swallow. CT evaluation with soft tissue and bone windows may replace the barium swallow because of its better detection of thin, small, minimally calcified foreign bodies which are often obscured by overlying tissues in the usual X-ray studies.