Rita:
The corrugation and beveled edges lead me think this is some sort of tack. Larger ones are often used at the corners of picture frames to hold the sides together. Some of the tacks can be quite small, although I've never seen any in these dimensions. Is there anything, by chance, the boy habitually chews on (many people, for example, habitually chew on the end of a pencil).
Seems a little odd that something that small wouldn't be swallowed, but then again, perhaps some were and went unnoticed.
Roger
Roger L. Bertholf, PhD
Professor of Pathology
Director of Clinical Chemistry, Toxicology
and Point of Care Testing
University of Florida Health Science Center/Jacksonville
-----Original Message-----
From: Clinical biochemistry discussion list [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Rita Horvath
Sent: Friday, October 18, 2013 3:40 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: An odd sample received for testing - A Friday afternoon puzzle
Our lab was asked this week to test what the attached small object (photographed and put under a stereomicroscope) could be and what kind of metal it is.
Background: A teenager preparing for his exams presented last week with 2 of these fragments attached. They appear to be scored or etched copper rectangles about 1.5 X 1 mm. He has apparently discovered these in his mouth intermittently over the past 4-5 months. Mother has now developed concerns and brought him to ED. RMO when questioned did not think a psych consult was warranted as the boy appeared amiable and cooperative and was a "nice kid". The piece supplied appears to be copper and seems an unlikely inhalation.
The boy has no dental fillings and no history of foreign bodies.
Any thought what this object on the photo could be?
Kind regards, Rita
Prof. Andrea Rita Horvath, MD, PhD, EurClinChem, FRCPath, FRCPA Past President of the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine Clinical Director, SEALS North, Department of Clinical Chemistry Level 4, Campus Centre, Prince of Wales Hospital Barker Street, Randwick, NSW 2031, Sydney, Australia
Tel: (+612)-9382 9078
Fax: (+612)-9382 9099
Mobile No: (+61)-404 027 843
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