Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Esophageal perforation by a tooth in child abuse

  • Originals
  • Published:
Pediatric Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A unique case of child abuse in a six-year-old Hispanic girl is reported. In this case, a tooth avulsed and swallowed during an episode of physical abuse and/or sexual abuse, caused an esophageal perforation resulting in a retropharyngeal abscess and mediastinal abscess containing the tooth. Although traumatic esophageal injuries in child abuse have occurred, the presence of a tooth within the mediastinal abscess is an unique manifestation of child abuse.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kleinman PK (1987) Diagnostic imaging of child abuse. Visceral trauma, Chap 7. Williams and Wilkins, Baltimore, p 115

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ablin DS, Reinhart MA (1990) Esophageal perforation with mediastinal abscess in child abuse. Pediatr Radiol 20:524–525

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Kleinman PK, Spevak MR, Hansen M (1992) Mediastinal pseudocyst caused by pharyngeal perforation during child abuse. AJR 158:1111–1113

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Grace A, Grace S (1987) Child abuse within the ear, nose, and throat. J Otolaryngol 16:108–111

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Manning SC, Casselbrant M, Lammrs D (1990) Otolaryngologic manifestations of chil abuse. 20:7–16

  6. Fernades ET, Hollabaugh RS, Boulden T (1989) Mediastinal mass and radiolucent esophageal foreign body. J Pediatr Surg 24:1135–1136.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Banks W, Potsic WP (1978) Unsuspected foregn bodies of the aerodigestive tract. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 87:515–518

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Allison MJ, Pezzia A, Gerszten E, Giffler RF (1974) Aspiration pneumonia due to teeth-950 A. D. and 1973 A. D. South Med J 67:479–483.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Kleinfeldt D, Busch-Peterson D, Hein J, Gülzow HH, Herzog KH (1974) Mediastinal abscess following esophageal perforation by a swallowed glass splinter. HNO 22:324–325

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Montinari M, Giangregorio F, Mangieri C (1975) Mediastinal abscess secondary to laceration of the esophagus secondary to extraction of a coin in a young girl. Minerva Chir 30:827–831

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Carrol CL, Jeffrey RB, Federle MP, Vernacchia FS (1987) CT evaluation of mediastinal infections. J Comput Assist Tomogr 11:449–454

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Breatnach E, Nath PH, Delany DJ (1986) The role of computed tomography in acute and subacute mediastinitis. Clin Radiol 137:139–145

    Google Scholar 

  13. Wechsler RJ (1986) CT of esophageal-pleural fistulae. AJR 147:907–909

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. D. S. Ablin MD

    Present address: Department of Oediatrics, University of Californaia, 2516 Stokton Boulevard, TICON II, 95817, Sacramento, CA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, University of California, 2516 Stockton Boulevard, TICON II, 85817, Sacramento, CA, USA

    D. S. Ablin MD

  2. 765 Covell Boulevard, 95616, Davis, California, USA

    M. A. Reinhart

Authors
  1. D. S. Ablin MD
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. A. Reinhart
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Ablin, D.S., Reinhart, M.A. Esophageal perforation by a tooth in child abuse. Pediatr Radiol 22, 339–341 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02016250

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02016250

Keywords

Search

Navigation