Case Report: A rare cause of pancreatitis - fish bone

There is a wide variety of causes of pancreatitis, such as cholelithiasis and ethanol, of which only a small percentage are induced by foreign bodies, while cases of pancreatitis due to accidental ingestion of fish bone are seldom reported. Most accidentally ingested fish bones are eliminated through the digestive tract. It is very rare for them to penetrate the gastrointestinal tract and enter the pancreas, causing related complications. Here, we present a case of pancreatitis secondary to accidental ingestion of a fish bone. The case was initially poorly managed with medical treatment and further imaging suggestive of perforation and infection, which was successfully removed after exploratory laparotomy and intraoperative gastroscopy. A history of accidental fish bone ingestion is important and that contrast-enhanced computed tomography is indispensable for an early diagnosis. Endoscopic removal has the advantages of being less invasive, less painful, and easier to perform and is therefore preferred in most patients in recent years.