Food entrapped in papilla of Vater: uncommon cause of vomiting

Case report-A 20 month old girl was admitted for intractable vomiting over several days, with no other symptoms. Family and personal history were not contributive. Clinical and neurological examination, and routine blood test s and investigations (plain abdominal jc ray, upper gastrointestinal tract contrast study, abdominal ultrasonography) were normal. The upper gastroint estinal endoscopy showed a mild antral gastritis and the second portion of duodenum was occupied by a tough, fibrous mass partially embedded into the papilla of Vater. The foreign body was removed and proved to be vegetable f ibre (pineapple). Symptoms subsided immediately and the child was discharge d with gastroprotective therapy. After two months, on endoscopic examinatio n, the signs of gastropathy had cleared; the papilla of Vater was undamaged , but unchomped food debris was again found in the duodenum. Discussion-There are sporadic reports of foreign bodies retained into the p apilla of Vater, all of them in adults. This child, though her papilla was tiny, had no jaundice or pancreatitis, unlike most of the reported cases. T his is the first report of this finding in a child. The cause of the vomiti ng was not shown on abdominal ultrasonography or contrast study. It should be added to the list of unusual causes of vomiting. and ray, though her pap illa was jaundice or pancreatitis.