Background : Acupuncture, a well-known traditional medical procedure, is used to treat various conditions including pain control, relief of focal edema. A few cases of broken acupuncture in retroperitoneum were reported. Here, we report a case of broken acupuncture in anterior side of the pancreatic head and successful removal through laparoscopy.

Methods : A 45-year-old woman was received acupuncture therapy on back by an acupuncturist in a Korean traditional medicine clinic 6 months ago. There were no symptoms after this procedure, but she visited hospital due to epigastric pain for a few days. There were no abnormalities in laboratory findings including pancreatic enzymes. In CT scan and endoscopic ultrasonography, we identified chronic cholecystitis with multiple stones and a 2cm-length linear foreign body in pancreatic head. We initially thought of fishbone as the foreign body, but it was thought to have broken acupuncture due to her medical history and severe ferromagnetic artifact on MRCP. There was no definite reason for epigastric pain, so we planned laparoscopic cholecystectomy and foreign body removal.

Results : After partial omental bursectomy, the pancreatic head was exposed. We could identify a 1cm-sized black pin-point foreign body and remove it carefully. Subsequently, conventional cholecystectomy was performed and there was no significant event during the operation. She was discharged on the 4th postoperative day without complications.

Conclusions : Though a few cases of broken acupuncture on the retroperitoneum of back were reported, the detection at the anterior side of pancreatic head is extremely rare. The laparoscopic approach would be efficient for removal of it.