Accuracy of Conventional X-Rays in Diagnosing Airway Foreign Bodies among Children

Foreign bodies of the airway are a common occurrence in pediatric population. Early diagnosis is the key to successful and uncomplicated management of these accidents. An orderly and systematic approach to these patients is needed including careful history, physical examination and radiographic studies.

The objective of the study was to know the role of conventional X-rays in diagnosing cases of tracheobronchial foreign bodies and to know the sensitivity and specificity of the same in diagnosing the cases.

This study comprises 37 cases of tracheobronchial foreign bodies among children. This was a descriptive time bound study conducted at department of ENT, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences, Hubli, Karnataka, India. All cases of clinically suspected foreign bodies of tracheobronchial tree were included in the study.

Routine chest X-rays were found to correlate with positive foreign body on endoscopy in 58.33% of the cases. However, in only 8.33% of cases there was no foreign body when the X-ray was normal.

This study was of the conclusion that Conventional X-ray studies were sensitive but not specific in diagnosing tracheobronchial foreign bodies.