Delayed diagnosis of intracerebral foreign body from the vietnam war

Abstract

We report on a 22-year-old infantryman who sustained a right frontal wound to his head. He was treated and returned to duty immediately. During a computed tomography scan, 38 years after the incident, a metallic foreign body and disruption of the brain consistent with a projectile track were discovered in his brain. In this report, we review similar cases of delayed discovery of unsuspected foreign bodies and the probable nature of the wound. Copyright © Association of Military Surgeons of the US. All rights reserved.