Button Batteries as Missed Foreign Bodies in Children

The dangers of button battery ingestion are well documented. Button batteries may also be inserted into the ears and nose. In many cases of foreign body insertion the nature of the foreign body may be unclear. We describe two cases where foreign bodies of metallic appearance were noted in the ear and nose respectively with no prior history of button battery placement. Button batteries, which had caused significant tissue damage, were discovered in both cases. When there is diagnostic uncertainty regarding the precise nature of a metallic looking foreign body in the ears, nose or upper aerodigestive tract there should be a high index of suspicion of the possibility of a button battery and urgent removal undertaken.