# Case Report: Hemoptysis secondary to fish bone migration into the lung parenchyma

## TL;DR

A 71-year-old woman with a history of fish bone ingestion developed lung complications requiring surgery, highlighting the need for early CT scans.

## Contribution

This case report documents a rare instance of fish bone migration into lung tissue causing hemoptysis and emphasizes the importance of prompt CT imaging.

## Key findings

- Fish bone migration into lung parenchyma can cause recurrent hemoptysis and abscess formation.
- Thoracoscopic wedge resection effectively treats intraparenchymal fish bone migration with encapsulation.
- Contrast-enhanced CT is crucial for diagnosing foreign body migration not detected by laryngoscopy.

## Abstract

Hemoptysis caused by transmural migration of ingested fish bones into lung parenchyma is exceptionally rare. A 71-years-old diabetic woman presented with 20-days recurrent hemoptysis, exacerbated in supine position. Three months prior, she experienced fish bone impaction with negative laryngoscopy. On re-presentation, contrast-enhanced CT revealed a foreign body embedded in the right upper lobe surrounded by an inflammatory pseudotumor. Thoracoscopic wedge resection confirmed a fish bone intraparenchymal migration with suppurative abscess. The patient recovered uneventfully and remained asymptomatic at 1-month follow-up. This case highlights that even with negative laryngoscopy, patients with fish bone ingestion history require prompt CT to prevent delayed complications. Thoracoscopic resection is effective for pulmonary migration with inflammatory encapsulation.