Bilateral intranasal foreign bodies: a rare incidental finding on panoramic radiographs

Nasal Foreign Bodies (NFBs) are usually observed in children or mentally retarded patients because curiosity and interest in exploring their bodies make them more prone to lodging foreign bodies (FBs) in their nasal cavities. They are mostly seen in children aged 0-4 years and are usually located on the floor of the nasal cavity, just below the inferior turbinate. Panoramic radiographs are helpful for displaying NFBs. Furthermore, computed tomography (CT)/cone beam CT (CBCT) scans are generally necessary to obtain the exact location and to make a differential diagnosis as a prerequisite for succesful removal of NFBs. Unilateral NFBs are relatively uncommon occurrence and bilateral ones are very rare. To the best of our knowledge, this paper reports the first case of bilateral NFBs diagnosed incidentally on a panoramic radiograph in the literature. Similar reports of bilateral NFBs are reviewed. Epidemiology, diagnosis, and management of NFBs are also discussed.