Foreign body ingestion: comparison of diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography versus endoscopy

To investigate and compare the sensitivity and specificity of computed tomography and of endoscopy, as diagnostic tests for foreign body ingestion. Over a two-year period, Asian patients with suspected foreign body ingestion were studied. The clinical findings, computed tomography images, endoscopic results, treatment and outcomes were prospectively analysed. Over the study period, 193 patients were admitted for foreign body ingestion, complaining of a persistent foreign body sensation in the neck. The sensitivity and specificity of computed tomography were 78 and 96 per cent, respectively; the positive predictive value was 75 per cent and the negative predictive value 97 per cent. The diagnostic accuracy of computed tomography was 94 per cent. Our study showed that computed tomography had high negative predictive value and accuracy in the diagnosis of foreign body ingestion. It was useful if endoscopy showed negative findings but the patient still had persistent symptoms of foreign body ingestion.