Plastic laryngeal foreign bodies in children: A diagnostic challenge

Laryngeal foreign bodies represent a small portion of all pediatric airway foreign bodies. Difficulty in identifying laryngeal foreign bodies, especially thin, plastic radiolucent foreign bodies can delay treatment. Thin plastic foreign bodies can present without radiographic findings, can be difficult to image during endoscopy and can be particularly difficult to diagnose. A history of choking and vocal changes is associated with laryngeal foreign bodies. Laryngeal foreign bodies should be in the differential diagnosis of all children presenting with atypical upper respiratory complaints especially if a history suggestive of witnessed aspiration and dysphonia can be obtained.