GI Radiology > Esophagus > Foreign Bodies

Food Impactions & Foreign Bodies in the Esophagus (cont.)

Plain Films/Radiographs
  • Should be performed on all patients with suspected foreign body ingestion.
  • Radiographs should be obtained of the neck, chest, and upper abdomen.
  • These plain films are used to search for radiopaque foreign bodies and to identify possible complications, such as pneumonia, lung abscess, atelectasis, pneumothorax, pneumoperitoneum, pleural effusion, mediastinitis, and subcutaneous emphysema (3,5,21).