Guidelines for imaging patterns of foreign bodies and their complications

Foreign bodies may cause intestinal obstruction, inflammation, abscessation, fistulation or pyogranuloma. Frequent foreign bodies are toys, plants, bones, wooden sticks, suture material, surgical sponges, needles or hooks. The prognosis for affected animals is good if the foreign bodies can be localized and removed completely. In case of incomplete removal fatal complications such as intestinal perforation, pyothorax, osteomyelitis, discospondylitis or osteosarcoma were reported. This report is meant to be a diagnostic guide for imaging patterns of foreign bodies and their associated complications. The corresponding imaging patterns were classified according to organ systems and documented by means of carefully selected images. To improve the understanding of imaging features of foreign bodies, the essential physics of radiology, sonography and magnetic resonance imaging are considered in the introduction.