A Right Scrotal Abscess and Foreign Body Ingestion in a Schizophrenic Patient

A 38-year-old man with a history of schizophrenia presented with pain and swelling of his testicles, with the right side worse than the left. Physical examination was remarkable for a very firm, large, right-sided scrotal mass. Testicular ultrasound was suspicious for neoplasm or abscess. On the pelvic computed tomography (CT) scan, which was obtained as part of a metastatic cancer work-up, two metallic foreign bodies were identified in the pelvis. On further questioning, the patient admitted to ingesting the nails 2 days prior, in a suicide attempt. We review the evaluation of unilateral scrotal pain and swelling, and incidental foreign body ingestion.