Copyright: ©Author(s) 2026. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license. No commercial re-use. See permissions. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc.
World J Clin Cases. Jul 26, 2026; 14(21): 120561
Published online Jul 26, 2026. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.120561
Published online Jul 26, 2026. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.120561
Aspiration of a metallic-crowned tooth in the left main bronchus in a neurocritical patient: A case report
Konstantina Karadimou, Ioannis Pantazopoulos, Department of Respiratory Medicine, Univer
Georgios Mavrovounis, Ioannis Pantazopoulos, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Thessaly, Larissa 41334, Greece
Maria Karapetsa, Department of Intensive Care, University of Thessaly, Larisa 41334, Thessalía, Greece
Author contributions: Karadimou K and Mavrovounis G contributed to conceptualization; Karadimou K contributed to data collection, literature review, and drafting of the manuscript; Mavrovounis G and Pantazopoulos I contributed to supervision; Karadimou K and Pantazopoulos I contributed to bronchoscopic management of the case; Mavrovounis G, Karapetsa M, and Pantazopoulos I contributed to critical revision of the manuscript for important intellectual content; Karapetsa M contributed to clinical management in the intensive care unit and data acquisition; Pantazopoulos I contributed to study design, final approval of the version to be published. All authors have read and approved the final manuscript and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.
AI contribution statement: AI was not used at any stage of the preparation of this manuscript.
Informed consent statement: Informed written consent was obtained from the patient for publication of this report and any accompanying images.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
CARE Checklist (2016) statement: The authors have read the CARE Checklist (2016), and the manuscript was prepared and revised according to the CARE Checklist (2016).
Corresponding author: Ioannis Pantazopoulos, Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Thessaly, Mezourlo, Larissa 41334, Greece. pantazopoulosioannis@yahoo.com
Received: March 3, 2026
Revised: May 22, 2026
Accepted: June 16, 2026
Published online: July 26, 2026
Processing time: 140 Days and 21.7 Hours
Revised: May 22, 2026
Accepted: June 16, 2026
Published online: July 26, 2026
Processing time: 140 Days and 21.7 Hours
Core Tip
Core Tip: Aspiration of dental crowns in adults is rare and frequently occurs in patients with impaired consciousness or following airway manipulation. Despite their radiopacity, metallic crowns may be misinterpreted on imaging. This case emphasizes the importance of maintaining diagnostic vigilance for foreign-body aspiration in atypical anatomical locations and highlights the role of early bronchoscopy in these patients.