Dentomaxillofacial Radiology (2006) 35, 36-37
© 2006 British Institute of Radiology
doi: 10.1259/dmfr/12846887
Impacted earring clip visible on panoramic radiograph
M Sancar
Gazi University, Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Ankara, Turkey
Abstract
Earrings are very popular jewellery and ear piercing is performed in very young children. Complications that have been reported in the literature are mainly dermatologic, ranging from embedded foreign body to pressure sores in the post-auricular region. During panoramic radiographic evaluation, precise examination of this area can be used to determine the presence of foreign bodies. In this case, a patient referred to our clinic with panoramic film for an impacted third molar who was not aware of an earring clip impacted in her ear lobe is presented.
Keywords: impacted earring; panoramic radiograph; jewellery complication; ear lope; piercing; foreign body
A 16-year-old female was referred to our department for the removal of her third molars for orthodontic purposes. Her panoramic radiograph revealed a radiopaque mass with sharp edges on her right earlobe (Figure 1
). At first it was thought that the earring was forgotten when the radiograph was taken, but the patient stated that she was not wearing earrings that day. Twelve years previously her earring disappeared and could not be found by her parents. For the last 12 years she had no sign of discomfort. Palpation of the earlobe made it clear that an impacted foreign body was present (Figure 2). There was no sign of dermal colour change or a pathological lesion. Under local anaesthesia, the mass was removed and the wound was directly closed (Figure 3). The remnant was a golden earring clip (Figure 4). There was no complication during the healing period.
Discussion
The wearing of earrings is very common in the newborn period in most societies around the world and the earlobe piercing is generally performed by the relatives. It is important to take care of very young individuals wearing earrings. In earlobe piercing, medical complications are not uncommon, and sequelae such as infection, cleft earlobes, allergies, atopy, sarcoid granuloma,1–7 embedding,8–10 aspiration and ingestion11 have been reported in the literature. In this case, the parents placed golden rings in the earlobes of their new born child. The earring on the right side was lost and could not be found when she was 4 years old and the parents did not realise that the remnant golden clip was in her earlobe for 12 years. In her first panoramic radiographic evaluation for the impacted third molars, the earring clip was seen by the maxillofacial surgeon. This case demonstrates that the evaluation of radiographs, especially panoramic views, has to be done with great attention.
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