A sewing needle migrating into the liver in a child: case report and review of the literature

Swallowing foreign bodies is a common problem in children. Although most objects pass through the gastrointestinal tract with no untoward effect; long, sharp-pointed, or slender objects can perforate the gut. Migration of an object to the liver is extremely rare and very few cases have been reported in the literature. The aim of this study is to draw attention to this subject once again by contributing a case report of a child with a hepatic sewing needle. A survey of the literature over the period from 1971 to 2006 revealed a total of five cases of childhood hepatic sewing needle together with our case. The practical lesson illustrated by this report is that the surgeon must carefully evaluate the liver when foreign body was not found in gastrointestinal system and also perforation site was found anywhere.