JOURNAL ARTICLE

Lanthanum masquerading as foreign body ingestion in a critically ill patient with end-stage renal disease.

  • Published In: American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy, 2023, v. 80, n. 7. P. 430 1 of 3

  • Database: Academic Search Ultimate 2 of 3

  • Authored By: Rappaport, Stephen H; Vineyard, Tedd; Hack, Madelaine; Shah, Tanya; Dooley, Joseph W 3 of 3

Abstract

This case study focuses on the impact of lanthanum carbonate ingestion on medical imaging, where whole tablets appeared as radiopaque foreign bodies in a patient with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Lanthanum carbonate is a non–calcium-based phosphate binder used to manage hyperphosphatemia in ESRD patients, and its tablets can mimic metallic foreign bodies on x-rays and CT scans if swallowed whole rather than chewed as instructed. In the reported case, diligent medication reconciliation and review of prescription history prevented unnecessary surgical or gastroenterological interventions by identifying the radiographic findings as lanthanum tablets. The study highlights the importance of thorough medication reconciliation, especially in critical care settings, to avoid misinterpretation of imaging results and unnecessary escalation of care.

Additional Information

  • Source:American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy. 2023/04, Vol. 80, Issue 7, p430
  • Document Type:Article
  • Subject Area:Geology
  • Publication Date:2023
  • ISSN:1079-2082
  • DOI:10.1093/ajhp/zxac380
  • Accession Number:162631655
  • Copyright Statement:Copyright of American Journal of Health-System Pharmacy is the property of Oxford University Press / USA and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Looking to go deeper into this topic? Look for more articles on EBSCOhost.