Intraoperative ultrasound-guided retrieval of an airgun pellet from the tongue: a case report

Real-time intraoperative ultrasonography was used to detect and facilitate removal of an airgun pellet from the tongue of a 14-year-old boy. Diagnostic ultrasound was crucial in clarifying the positional relation between the foreign body and the instrument used, enabling safe, precise and rapid retrieval during a potentially hazardous surgical operation.