Introduction:
Central needle embolization in intravenous drug users is a rare event,
with few cases reported in the literature (1). It is not known whether
embolised needle has a predilection to a specific side or lobe. There is
no consensus on how to manage these patients since the reported
complications are very rare. The embolised needle may pass unnoticed
because of the stigmata of abusing drugs in our community, yet, it may
present later with pulmonary complications. Increasing the awareness of
this rare entity could help the detection of more cases with more
accurate monitoring of the long-term consequences. Foreign body
pulmonary embolism was reporter in the literature (2-4); however, needle
embolization is scarce.
We reported a case of needle embolization to the right lower lobe that
occurred during the trial of the needle retrieval from the left cephalic
vein.