An overlooked bronchial foreign body in adult

A long-standing undiagnosed foreign body in bronchus in adult is very rare case. A 42 years old man with complain of chronic cough with expectoration and fever since 3 years was treated medically including a complete course of AKT for 6 months without improvement in the patient's condition. On taking detailed history, it was revealed that patient had swallowed or aspirated a denture before 3 years, which was overlooked by the treating clinicians. As denture is radiolucent foreign body it remained undiagnosed in X-ray chest for 3 years. It was visualized on flexible bronchoscopy and removed with rigid bronchoscopy. The patient got relieved from symptoms within a week. So presence of chronic cough. wheezing and fever without reduced air entry and without obstructive finding in X-ray chest, should indicate the need for diagnostic bronchoscopy. Also adult patients of recurrent lower respiratory symptoms in spite of satisfactory medical treatment must be submitted for diagnostic bronchoscopy.