Multiple foreign bodies (fish bones) in the esophagus and rectum.

Multiple foreign bodies (fish bones) in the esophagus and rectum, seen in a 64-year-old man, are reported. This patient suffered from severe pain on swallowing after he had eaten fried fish. Five days later, he was referred to us, and underwent removal of a piece of fish bone under direct metal esophagoscopy. After surgery, fever and leukocytosis still continued, even though pain on swallowing disappeared. Periesophageal abscess was suspected; but no leakage or abnormal shadow was found by esophagography. Since the patient complained of severe anal pain five days after the endoscopic procedure, a romanoscopy was performed: a fish bone in the rectum and periproctal abscess were detected. Removal of the foreign body and incision of the periproctal abscess caused fever and leukocytosis to subside. A review of the literature revealed only a very few cases of multiple foreign bodies in the esophagus and lower digestive tract.