Clinical guidelines for imaging and reporting ingested foreign bodies.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this article is to familiarize radiologists with the specific characteristics of foreign bodies, obtained from image interpretation, to guide further management. Details of object morphologic characteristics and location in the body gained through imaging form the backbone of the classification used in the treatment of ingested foreign bodies. CONCLUSION: The characteristics of foreign bodies and predisposing bowel abnormalities affect the decision to follow ingested objects radiographically, perform additional imaging, or proceed with endoscopic or surgical removal.