A persistent unilateral lung infiltrate

We describe the case of an intrabronchial aspirated foreign body that caused a persistent right lower lobe infiltrate. A first fibreoptic bronchoscopy demonstrated a mass with tumour-like appearance in the right bronchus intermedias, but the bronchial biopsies and the cytological smears of the bronchial aspirate failed to reveal any malignancy. During a control fibreoptic bronchoscopy, we found a chicken bone in this friable granulation tissue. It was subsequently removed with a flexible bronchofibrescope and a four-pronged forceps under topical anaesthesia.