Long-term presence of a denture fragment in the airway

Two cases are reported in which a denture fragment was lodged in the bronchus for a period of six years. Bronchial asthma which did not worsen immediately after inhalation and other misleading factors made the diagnosis more difficult in the first case, whilst the respiratory symptoms in the second case appeared only 4 years after inhalation. Haemoptysis 2 years later led to a bronchoscopy and the removal of the foreign body.