• Sohit Paul Kanotra and Sonika Kanotra.
• Department of Otolaryngology, St. Luke's Roosevelt Hospital Center, New York, New York 10019, USA.
• J Emerg Med. 2012 Nov 1;43(5):e315-7.

BackgroundCleft palate has usually been described as a congenital anomaly. Acquired clefting of the palate is rare and is usually due to penetrating trauma.ObjectiveTo report a case of cleft palate developing after ingestion of a coin due to prolonged impaction in the nasopharynx.Case ReportA 4 1/2-year-old child presented with nasal regurgitation and nasal twang of voice. The parents reported a history of ingestion of a coin 2 years prior, which was undetectable on neck and chest X-ray study done at that time. Examination revealed a triangular cleft of soft palate. A diagnosis was made of an acquired cleft palate secondary to prolonged impaction of the coin in the nasopharynx. Under general anesthesia, the palatal defect was repaired in three layers.ConclusionThe case highlights the fact that ingested foreign bodies can get lodged in the nasopharynx and that nasopharynx X-ray study should always be done in cases of a disappearing foreign body in the aerodigestive tract.Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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