A patient with dysphagia

A 19 year old man presented to the accident and emergency department with acute onset inability to swallow and a feeling of a lump in his throat after having a meal. On examination he was distressed and was drooling saliva. The patient showed marked dysphagia when asked to take sips of water. A lateral neck radiograph was taken to confirm the diagnosis (figure). Lateral radiograph of the neck 1. What is the diagnosis? 2. What are the classic features of this on a radiograph? 3. What is the management? 1. The diagnosis is a foreign body at the level of the cricopharynx. The lateral radiograph of the soft tissues of the neck shows soft tissue thickening at the cricopharynx, representing a food bolus (A), and marked presence of air in the upper oesophagus inferior to the food bolus (B). 2. A lateral soft tissue radiograph of a foreign …