Raza S, Asrar L, Oyetunji N, Al Belaihi M, Kakaria A.
Calcified posterior part of cricoid cartilage presenting as foreign body complicated with retropharyngeal cellulitis.
J Pak Med Assoc Jan ;54(4):224-6.

A 49 years male doctor presented with history of sore throat, irritation in the throat for two days associated with mild dysphagia. He gave no history of swallowing any foreign body. Case was treated as acute pharyngitis. Three days later he presented with severe pain in the throat and dysphagia even for liquids. There was a past history of hypertension controlled on medication. Detailed history revealed that five days earlier he had eaten chicken with rice in a restaurant. Since then he had been sufferring from sore throat and dysphagia with increasing severity. On examination, he was pyrexic with stable general condition. The oropharynx was severely congested, uvula edematous, and indirect laryngoscopy revealed angry red pharyngeal wall, with pooling of saliva, obstructing the view of hypopharyngeal area. Vocal cords were difficult to visualize. There was diffuse swelling with tenderness over the thyroid region externally and anterior part of the neck. Other ENT and systemic examination were normal. He was admitted and was given 1V antibiotics, analgesics with IV fluids. Routine blood picture showed mild increase in WBC count. Lateral soft tissue radiograph of the neck showed a retropharyngeal swelling with query radioopaque F.B. shadow at cricopharynx. CT scan of neck showed a thin elongated calcific density query in the anterior wall of the beginning of esophagus in close proximity to the Cricoid cartillage, penetrated intramural FB or calcified part of Cricoid was the interpretation by the radiologist.

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