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Neck-mediastinum foreign body (FB) is a common emergency in otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery departments, and it can be lethal. We present a case of an uncommon foreign body in the neck-mediastinum. The FB was metallic and about 12 cm long. A 74-year-old male accidentally swallowed a metallic FB that lodged in his throat for > 3 days. The intake of the object was associated with smoking a peace pipe, and was an indication for surgery. Aerodermectasia was observed in the neck upon physical examination, and a high-density foreign body was found in the neck-mediastinum through cervicothoracic computed-tomography (CT) scan. Electronic laryngoscopy showed a white pseudo-membrane adhering to the surface of the bilateral piriform fossa in the right laryngeal vestibule, and the root of the tongue, and mucosa were swollen. Cervicothoracic CT revealed dense shadows in the neck-mediastinum. However, electronic laryngoscopy showed no FB in the larynx or piriform fossa. The metal FB was removed by surgery via the parapharyngeal space approach instead of endoscopy. After preoperative assessment and preparation, we successfully removed the metal FB from the neck-mediastinum via the parapharyngeal space approach. The patient was doing well at one-month follow-up. Neck-mediastinum FB is an emergency but rare case necessitating otorhinolaryngology head and neck surgery. It can easily lead to mediastinal and lung infection; given its location in the body, it may lead to aortic arch rupture if not handled promptly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The purpose is to investigate metal non-opaque foreign bodies of firearm origin. Materials and methods. Five cases of removing soft tissue foreign bodies of gunshot origin were investigated, when radiography of the limb soft tissues didn’t detect foreign bodies, but they were removed during the primary surgical wound debridement. X-ray of soft tissue gunshot wounds found no foreign bodies. To study radiographic density, foreign bodies were placed in a foam model with subsequent multislice computed tomography. For spectral analysis of metal foreign bodies, we used wavelengths unconventional for X-ray, which allowed to conduct X-ray fluorescence and X-ray structural studies. Results. Radiographic density of metal foreign bodies ranged from 989 to 2123 HU. Given the different thickness of foreign bodies, from 0.4 to 3.2 mm, the average was 1700 ± 189 HU. The foam had radiographic density of –969 HU with model dimensions of 200 × 100 × 50 mm. When examining samples of foreign bodies, it was found that they are deformed, have different thicknesses. One of the samples is light and smooth on one side, and dark and rough on the other. X-ray fluorescence results: composition on the light side (% by mass): Al — base, Mn — 0.8, Fe — 0.3, Zn — 0.1, Cr — 0.05, Ti — 0.2, corresponding to Al-Mn alloy. The dark side is an oxidized Al-Mn alloy. In the spectrum of the dark side of the sample, the Br-Kα line was detected, which indicates the participation of bromine compounds in the oxidation process. From the smooth side of the sample, the spectrum of this line is not determined. Conclusions. Non-opaque metal foreign bodies of gunshot origin are a rare phenomenon. Metal foreign bodies with low radiographic density are non-ferromagnetic, the use of modern magnetic surgical instruments will not be effective. Visualization of metal foreign bodies, which are not determined by radiography, is possible with the help of multislice computed tomography. The use of the wavelength of primary radiation, which is unconventional for X-ray spectral analysis, and original X-ray optical schemes allows for quantitative determination of the composition and structure of any metal foreign bodies.