Sewing needles in the lungs of children

Abstract

Rationale: Foreign bodies are common in children. However, it is uncommon to have a “sewing needle” penetrating the body percutaneously rather than via a natural orifice. Such cases have been reported from across the world, with needles being found in regions such as the cranium, abdomen, limbs, neck, scrotum, and buttocks. Few cases with a needle inserted in the lung have been reported. Patient concerns: We present 2 cases where the needles were found in the chest wall/lung because of suspected child abuse. In the first case, foreign bodies were present in the chest wall and the lung. In the other case, the pointed end was oriented towards, and was very close to, the great arteries. Diagnoses: Both cases were diagnosed incidentally when chest X-ray was being performed for other reasons. Interventions: Surgery was indicated for both cases, and the needles were excised uneventfully. Outcomes: The postoperative course in both cases was uneventful. Lessons: It is worth noting that in both cases, neither the guardians nor the victims themselves could tell when and how the needles got lodged in the lungs. Collective information suggested that these 2 cases probably involved child abuse. Child abuse in China has long been underestimated and underrecognized. There is still much left to do to tackle this important issue, especially in rural areas.