A Case of Small Bowel Fistulas Caused by Multiple Magnet Ingestion: Usefulness of Ultrasonography.

Jeon,  Junyeong; Lee,  Kwanseop; Ahn,  Soo Min; Lee,  In Jae; Lee,  Hyun; Jung,  Kyoon Soon; Koh,  Sung Hye

Journal of Korean Society of Ultrasound in Medicine 2013;32(4): 294-297.

Junyeong Jeon, Kwanseop Lee, Soo Min Ahn, In Jae Lee, Hyun Lee, Kyoon Soon Jung, Sung Hye Koh

¹Department of Radiology, Hallym Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University of Korea, Korea. kwanseop@hallym.or.kr
²Department of Surgery, Hallym Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University of Korea, Korea.

Published online: December 31, 2013.

ABSTRACT

Foreign body ingestion is a common problem in the pediatric population and the majority of such cases occur between the ages of six months and three years. Most objects pass uneventfully through the gastrointestinal tract; however, ingestion of multiple magnets can cause serious gastrointestinal complications through interaction with each other across the bowel wall. In these situations, radiologic evaluation is imperative for proper treatment. This is a case report on ingestion of 32 magnets in a 10-year-old boy. We diagnosed a small bowel fistula caused by ingestion of multiple magnets using sonography, which showed hyperechoic magnetic foreign bodies attached together penetrating the thickened neighbouring jejunum.

Keywords: Foreign bodies; Magnets; Ultrasonography