Rare cause of hemoptysis: An intrapulmonary acupuncture needle

A 15-year-old boy with severe encephalopathy and vegetative status was found coughing fresh blood from a tracheostomy 1 day after the tracheostomy tube had been changed. A chest X ray revealed a fractured wire retained over the peripheral right lower thorax region. Computed tomography revealed the retained metal wire with an abscess formed over the right lower lobe of the lung. Flexible bronchoscopy was performed but no foreign body or intrabronchial lesions were detected, although fresh blood from the bronchus of the right lower lobe was found. An exploratory thoracotomy was performed with lobectomy of the right lower lobe of the lung and an acupuncture needle was found within the bronchus. Hemoptysis subsided and the infection resolved gradually after the surgical removal of the needle.