Migration of an Ingested Fish Bone to the Submandibular Gland: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

Background: Fish bone is one of the most common foreign bodies that gets lodged in the upper digestive tract, often located in the tonsil, epiglottis, pear-shaped fossa, and esophagus, where it may be easily located on routine inspection and removed. The forcible swallowing of food such as rice balls after ingesting fish bones by mistake may lead to the migration of the fish bone from the pharynx, throat, or esophagus to the surrounding tissues. Migration most commonly occurs to the soft tissues of the neck, even to the thyroid gland, but migration to the submandibular gland has rarely been reported. Conclusions: Foreign body ingestion may cause a series of complications and endanger a patient’s life. Cases require high awareness and attentiveness on the part of the first physician to diagnose and manage the condition, and appropriate health education should be imparted to the patient.