Incidental finding of a sewing needle in the buttock of a woman with cervical cancer: how did we manage it?

Introduction and importance: Foreign bodies such as needles left inside the human body have the potential of complications such as infection, injury to adjacent tissues, increased treatment costs, and repetitive surgeries. Early detection and prompt retrieval with an appropriate technique is crucial to avert these complications. Case presentation: A 53-year-old woman with cervical cancer, FIGO stage IIA, was incidentally found to have an asymptomatic sewing needle in her right buttock for an unknown duration. It was successfully removed under local anesthesia. Discussion: Early detection and prompt retrieval of metallic foreign body is crucial to avert potential complications. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with metallic foreign body in situ possesses serious complications. Conclusion: This case report highlights the importance of alarm signal detected during the MRI, irrespective of the history of metallic foreign body present in a human being. In addition, intraoperative X-ray can be useful adjunct tool to ensure complete removal of metallic foreign body parts, so that the patients do not need repetitive surgeries to remove the residual part.