The "Nutty" Patient: A Case Report of an Intraoral Almond Masquerading as an Abscess

Objective: To appreciate the presence and appearance of comestible foreign bodies which may resemble more sinister diagnoses in the differential diagnosis for intraoral pathologies. Background: Intraoral comestible bodies can be misleading during radiographic imaging. Items may include food pieces, tobacco products, and chewing gum. The situation becomes more complicated when patients are localizing symptoms to the oral cavity where the comestible item may have been during a computed tomography (CT) scan. Case Report: A patient is presented complaining of dysphagia following a recent neurological insult and odynophagia following dental work and was found to have a comestible intraoral foreign body misdiagnosed as an intraoral abscess. Conclusion: Modern radiographic imaging does not replace a thorough history and physical exam with regards to diagnosing diseases, and one must have a high index of suspicion for intraoral comestible items in the proper setting. Background