Abstract:
Foreign body can be placed in genital tract either accidentally or intentionally and if forgotten lead to chronic offensive vaginal discharge. Observed in extremes of ages, either in old women with altered memory or in children with curious nature. Common foreign bodies retrieved from vagina include old forgotten tampons and pessaries, pins, buttons, seeds, toy parts. In younger women vaginal foreign bodies may have been placed intentionally for sexual gratification, psychiatric disorder or sexual abuse. This is a report of 63 years postmenopausal with chronic foul smelling, purulent vaginal discharge mistakenly thought to be pyometra. An initial examination under anesthesia failed to reveal the foreign body making the diagnostic dilemma. Finally a total abdominal hysterectomy revealed a tightly impacted foreign body in the cervical canal. The case is presented to highlight the need for adequate examination with proper imaging to exclude the presence foreign body prior to any surgical intervention in any woman with history of chronic vaginal discharge.
