A Case Report of Long-lost Intruder: A Decade-old Nasal Foreign Body Unveiled by Radiography

Foreign bodies in the nasal cavity are a common concern in otolaryngology, particularly among children due to their innate curiosity. Typically, such cases present with symptoms such as foul-smelling discharge or nosebleeds. However, the case discussed here lacked these classic signs. During routine radiographic imaging for orthodontic assessment, a radiopaque object was unexpectedly observed in the patient’s maxillary sinus region. Initially thought to be of dental origin, further cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging identified the object as a foreign body in the inferior nasal meatus. The patient was subsequently referred for nasal endoscopy, which confirmed and allowed the removal of the object. This case highlights that intranasal foreign bodies can remain asymptomatic for extended periods and may only be discovered incidentally. Chronic retention can result in calcification around the object, forming a rhinolith.