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Imaging pediatric magnet ingestion with surgical-pathological correlation

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Abstract

Foreign body ingestion is a common problem in the pediatric population and a frequent cause for emergency room visits. Magnets are common household objects that when ingested can bring about severe, possibly fatal gastrointestinal complications. Radiography is an integral component of the management of these children. Pediatric and emergency radiologists alike must be aware of imaging manifestations of magnet ingestion, as their identification drives decision-making for consulting surgeons and gastroenterologists. Radiology can thus substantially augment the clinical history and physical exam, facilitating appropriate management. This manuscript sequentially presents cases of magnet ingestion featuring imaging findings coupled with surgical and pathological correlation. Each case is presented to highlight ways in which the radiologist can make impactful contributions to diagnosis and management. Clinical overview with pitfalls of magnet ingestion imaging and an imaging decision tree will also be presented.

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Acknowledgments

The authors wish to acknowledge several of their colleagues at Seattle Children’s Hospital for their assistance with this manuscript. These include Drs. Kathy Patterson of pathology, Jeffrey Avansino and Matthew Harting of surgery, and Anthony Woodward and Russ Migita of emergency medicine.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiology, Seattle Children’s Hospital, University of Washington School of Medicine, 4800 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA, 98105, USA

    Jeffrey P. Otjen & Ramesh S. Iyer

  2. Department of Radiology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA, USA

    Charles A. Rohrmann Jr.

Authors
  1. Jeffrey P. Otjen
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  2. Charles A. Rohrmann Jr.
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  3. Ramesh S. Iyer
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Correspondence to Ramesh S. Iyer.

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Otjen, J.P., Rohrmann, C.A. & Iyer, R.S. Imaging pediatric magnet ingestion with surgical-pathological correlation. Pediatr Radiol 43, 851–859 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-012-2549-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-012-2549-1

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