Successful Localization and Removal of an Aberrant Sewing Needle in the Posterior Mediastinum: Usefulness of Multidetector Computed Tomography

Abstract Foreign metallic bodies in the mediastinum are relatively rare and may cause life-threatening damages to multiple organs in the mediastinum; therefore, the foreign body warrants urgent or elective removal. When the foreign body remains in the posterior mediastinum surrounded by important organs, for example, the heart or the great vessels, it is critical to determine the right approach for its safe removal. Here, we present the successful removal of a sewing needle from the posterior mediastinum using multidetector computed tomography that helped identify the foreign body’s location and its relationship with the surrounding organs.