unusual presentation of foreign body oesophagus

A case of long standing oesophageal foreign body [coin] in a child is discussed. The patient was unusual in several respects, especially the way it presented: failure to thrive secondary to the under nourishment caused by the foreign body. The foreign body was diagnosed only after it had eroded the walls of the oesophagus and the right main bronchus producing a bronchooesophageal fistula