Calcified triticeal cartilage: a red herring
Jeyasakthy Saniasiaya1, Norhafiza Mat Lazim1, Salma Win Mar2
Aim: To illustrate the importance of awareness of calcified triticeal cartilage which may mimic a foreign body. Unintentional foreign body ingestion, albeit common, still remains a quandary to many physicians, particularly otorhinolaryngologists. Case study: Herein, we are reporting the case of a middle-aged female who presented to us post ingestion of a duck bone. The patient had no obstructive symptoms. A lateral soft tissue neck radiograph revealed an opaque foreign body at the level of the fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae, which was removed under general anaesthesia. Repeated lateral neck radiography revealed a foreign body which turned out to be calcified triticeal cartilage. Conclusion: Familiarity with the problem of calcified laryngeal cartilage is imperative amongst clinicians so as to prevent misdiagnosis which may even jeopardize the patient’s life.