Lithobezoar, a rare cause of acute oesophageal obstruction: surgery after failure of endoscopic removal.

Oesophageal lithobezoar is a very rare clinical entity, especially presenting as a case of acute dysphagia. A 54-year-old man, with long-standing psychiatric illness, presented with a recent episode of vomiting and chest pain followed by dysphagia. Chest x-ray revealed a radio opaque shadow in the posterior mediastinum. Endoscopy showed a calcified foreign body in the lower oesophagus. Endoscopic attempts to remove or fragment the foreign body were unsuccessful. Foreign body was removed successfully through oesophagotomy using left posterolateral thoracotomy. Pathology revealed oesophageal lithobezoar.