Imaging Features of Tube Misplacement in All Ages

Authors

  • Ariel Lewis MD Department of Radiology, Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx
  • Einat Blumfield MD Department of Radiology, Montefiore Medical Center, Bronx
  • Bernard Goldwasser MD Department of Radiology, Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx
  • Jeremy Neuman MD Main Street Radiology, Jackson Heights
  • Jason Dipoce MD Alta Vista Radiology, Paradise Valley
  • Mark Guelfguat DO Department of Radiology, Jacobi Medical Center, Bronx

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3941/jrcr.5836

Abstract

Although feeding tube misplacement is rare, its sequelae can be life threatening with significant morbidity and mortality.  Increase in cases of gross feeding tube misplacement at our hospital in patients of all ages prompted investigation of misplacement rates and identification of risk factors. Literature review of enteric tube misplacement incidence and complications was performed. This exhibit illustrates the imaging spectrum of tube misplacement and complications both in the gastrointestinal tract and the tracheo-pulmonary tree. Common mimickers of tube misplacement are shown and differentiated. Risk factors for tube misplacement and how to prevent them are discussed at the end of this article.

6-year-old male with esophageal misplacement. FINDINGS: ( A) Feeding tube is looped in the stomach ( white arrow) resulting in a tip within the upper esophagus (black arrow). In another patient (B) the enteric tube is seen above the diaphragm consistent with an esophageal misplacement (black arrows) TECHNIQUE: Anterior posterior chest radiographs of two patients. 56kV 200mA and 95kV 500mA respectively.

Downloads

Published

2025-10-30

Issue

Vol. 19 No. 12 (2025)

Section

General Radiology

License

Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of Radiology Case Reports

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The publisher holds the copyright to the published articles and contents. However, the articles in this journal are open-access articles distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 4.0 License, which permits reproduction and distribution, provided the original work is properly cited. The publisher and author have the right to use the text, images and other multimedia contents from the submitted work for further usage in affiliated programs. Commercial use and derivative works are not permitted, unless explicitly allowed by the publisher.