May 2025 Medical Image of the Month: Aspirated Dental Screw

By: Osueni A, Vasudevan A, Gajendiran AP, Arul G, Gunasekaran K

Abstract: 

No abstract available. Article truncated after 150 words. An 80-year-old man with no significant past medical history presented to the emergency department with cough following a routine dental procedure. He reported intermittent coughing but denied chest pain, shortness of breath, palpitations, or dizziness. On physical examination, he appeared comfortable, with stable vital signs and no signs of respiratory distress. Cardiovascular, respiratory, and neurological examinations were unremarkable. A chest radiograph (Figure 1A) revealed a metallic foreign body in the right main bronchus. Laboratory investigations were within normal limits. Given the radiologic findings and stable clinical status, the patient was intubated and underwent flexible bronchoscopy. The procedure revealed a grayish metallic foreign body lodged in the right middle lobe bronchus (Figure 1C), which was successfully removed using a snare technique. No bleeding, trauma, or complications were observed. The extracted object measured 2.5 cm (Figure 1D) and appeared as a silver metallic dental screw with a sharp, broad base. Bronchial secretions …

URL: https://www.swjpcc.com/imaging/2025/5/2/may-2025-medical-image-of-the-month-aspirated-dental-screw.html