CASE REPORT: An Unusual Journey from the Bronchi to the Spleen Through the Lung from the Bronchi to the Spleen Through the Lung

Abstract Foreign body (FB) aspiration is a relatively common phenomenon in young children, necessitating prompt intervention and retrieval. These incidents are frequently unwitnessed, potentially delaying diagnosis and leading to complications. In this report, a non-contrast chest computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated a rare case of an aspirated FB extending from the lung bronchus and parenchyma to the spleen, despite no evidence of FB during flexible bronchoscopy. A FB diagnosis was suspected and subsequently confirmed intraoperatively during surgery. This case highlights the potential for aspirated foreign bodies to dislodge from the tracheo-bronchial tree and impact the lung parenchyma, emphasizing the enhanced diagnostic value of CT in complex cases where bronchoscopy findings are inconclusive.