A prospective study of epidemiological risk factors for ingestion of fish bones in Singapore

<p><b>INTRODUCTION</b>Ingestion of fish bones is a common clinical complaint among adult patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the epidemiological and behavioural risk factors for fish bone ingestion.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Between 2009 and 2010, a physician-administered questionnaire was administered to 112 consecutive patients who presented to the emergency department of an adult tertiary hospital with the complaint of fish bone ingestion.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The wearing of dentures, the use of utensils to eat fish and the practice of deboning fish in one's mouth were found to be associated with an increased risk of fish bone ingestion.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>To prevent the occurrence of fish bone ingestion and its possible complications, at-risk populations should be advised on the precautions to take when eating boned fish.</p>

Head and neck cancers masquerading as deep neck abscesses

Deep neck space abscesses are common otolaryngological emergencies, and prompt incision and drainage is the treatment of choice. Head and neck cancers often present with cervical metastases that may become secondarily infected. Clinical presentation is similar to a deep neck abscess. Surgical drainage of such collections has implications on subsequent treatment. In this case series, we describe six cases with this unusual presentation that were subsequently found to have a head and neck malignancy, and where three patients had their abscesses treated surgically. We aim to raise awareness of this unusual presentation of a head and neck carcinoma, and to avoid a potential pitfall in the management of deep neck abscess.