Aluminium ring pulls: an invisible foreign body

G D Stewart, M V Lakshmi, Alan Jackson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The aluminium ring pulls associated with the latest designs of drinks cans can be relatively easily detached from their mounting on the top of the can and subsequently aspirated. Their small size predisposes them to lodge as foreign bodies (FBs) in the throat. The similarity of atomic number between soft tissue (7.5) and aluminium (13) makes detection of these FBs difficult on soft tissue radiography. If aspiration is suspected direct visualization and removal may be indicated even if radiography is negative.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)201-3
Number of pages3
JournalJournal of accident & emergency medicine
Volume11
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 1994

Keywords

  • Adult
  • Aluminum
  • Beverages
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Emergency Service, Hospital
  • Foreign Bodies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pharynx
  • Radiography
  • Case Reports
  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article

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