Effectiveness of plain x-ray in detection of fish and chicken bone foreign body in upper aerodigestive tract

Objective: To assess the use of plain film radiology in the detection of fish and chicken bones in the upper aerodigestive tract. Methods: This retrospective chart review was conducted at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, and comprised medical charts of patients who had undergone oesophagoscopy for removal of fish and chicken bone from 1990 to 2015.SPSS 19 was used for data analysis. Results: Of the 24 patients, foreign body was detected on X-ray in 7(29.2%) and through fibre optic laryngoscopy in 13(54.2%).All the patients underwent surgical intervention for removal of the foreign body. Also, 19(79.2%) patients underwent direct laryngoscopy and 5(16.7%) required oesophagoscopy. The sensitivity with X-ray was 15% and specificity was zero. The sensitivity of fibre optic laryngoscopy in comparison to intra-operative findings was 65% and the specificity was 100%. Conclusion: X-ray was not found to be an ideal modality to diagnose fish or chicken bone impaction in the upper aerodigestive tract.