Chicken Bone Aspiration Masquerading as Malignancy: A Case Report of Diagnostic Dilemma

Abstract

Foreign body (FB) aspiration is rare in adults but may mimic malignancy or tuberculosis, leading to delayed diagnosis.
We report a 52-year-old chronic smoker who presented with persistent fever, cough, weight loss, and progressive dyspnoea. Clinical examination revealed signs of left lung collapse, initially suspected as endobronchial malignancy or tuberculosis. Chest CT confirmed complete collapse of the left lung with a hyperdense lesion in the main bronchus. Unexpectedly, bronchoscopy identified and removed a chicken bone lodged in the left main bronchus, leading to complete symptom resolution.
Physicians should consider FB aspiration in adults with unexplained respiratory symptoms mimicking lung cancer or tuberculosis.
Keywords: Aspiration, bronchoscopy, foreign bodies