PENETRATING INJURY FROM PLASTIC AIRSOFT PELLET SHOWS BEAM-HARDENING ARTIFACT ON COMPUTER TOMOGRAPHY.

PURPOSE: To describe a case of left eye corneal perforation, cataract, hyphema, and intraocular foreign body after airsoft pellet injury.

METHODS

The authors reviewed the medical history and diagnostic imaging of a 12-year-old boy injured by a pellet from an airsoft gun. Typically, plastic airsoft pellets cause blunt trauma to the globe, which can lead to visual disability from corneal abrasion or hyphema. Initial computed tomography of the left orbit showed a 6.1 mm × 7.6-mm radiodense foreign body with beam-hardening artifact, a radiographic feature associated with metallic objects.

RESULTS

The patient was taken to the operating room for globe repair, lensectomy, vitrectomy, and removal of intraocular foreign body. The removed foreign body was a plastic airsoft pellet.

CONCLUSION

This is the first report of a plastic intraocular foreign body showing beam-hardening artifact. This finding may have implications in the diagnosis and management of retained intraocular or intraorbital plastic foreign bodies.