Lateral pharyngotomy for removal of a penetrating fish bone; Case Report

A 34 years old female Philippine patient complained of neck pain, dysphagia and neck stiffness following fish bone swallowing of two days duration. Lateral plain x-ray of neck showed suspected shadow at the level of the forth-cervical vertebra with widening of prevertebral space. Endoscopy was performed twice, but no foreign body was detected. Only oedema of valleculla and post-cricoid regions with abscess formation. C.T. showed that the fish bone was penetrating the pharyngeal wall and impacted in the prevertebral tissue. Right lateral Pharyngotomy was performed and the fish bone was removed