RETAINED FOREIGN-BODY - ASSOCIATIONS WITH ELEVATED LEAD LEVELS, PICA,AND DUODENAL ANOMALY

A 14-month-old girl presented with elevated lead levels and a metallic foreign body was detected on abdominal radiograph. Subsequent evaluat ion, performed after the child failed to pass the foreign body with ca thartics, revealed a bezoar proximal to a partial duodenal obstruction . The metallic foreign body was later removed and found to contain lea d, however, the patient has subsequently had recurrent elevations of l ead levels with episodes of pica. This case reiterates the need to eva luate children with retained foreign bodies for lead poisoning due to associated pica. In addition, retained foreign bodies should point to possible congenital anomaly of the duodenum causing partial obstructio n.