The predictive role of dual source CT for esophageal foreign bodies.

INTRODUCTION: Esophageal foreign bodies can be a danger to a patient's life. Flexible or rigid endoscopy is a commonly used type of invasive investigation for these, and radiological examinations are also useful.

STUDY DESIGN: Series of reports.

METHODS AND RESULTS: Multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) can confirm and locate most foreign bodies. Dual source CT (DSCT) is a more advanced technique with double speed, 20% of the radiation dosage and higher resolution, so it is more suitable for possible esophageal foreign bodies, especially in children, with no need for sedation. We provide a preliminary experiment of a DSCT scan of two fish, and we present a series of 11 cases with DSCT scans of which 5 were positive.

CONCLUSIONS: Timely diagnosis and accurate localization are paramount for endoscopy. DSCT is very useful for diagnosis and evaluation of esophageal foreign bodies.