[A foreign body in the tongue]. / Corpus alienum in de tong.

A 3-year-old boy was referred to the emergency department of a medical centre because of a local swelling of the tongue. Radiographic imaging concluded that it concerned a complete tooth, which had been overlooked during an earlier visit to the same department. The foreign body was removed easily under general anaesthesia. A foreign body in the lip is a feature frequently seen by family physicians and in emergency departments of medical centres. However, a foreign body in the tongue is, by contrast, less often reported. Physical examination is the key factor in diagnostics. When in doubt, a radiograph should be made.