Radiologists treat self-embedding disorder

CHICAGO, Dec. 3 (UPI) -- U.S. radiologists say they're using minimally invasive, image-guided treatment to remove foreign objects self-embedded by teenagers.

A study, presented Wednesday at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America, is the first to report on an emerging condition called self-embedding disorder, the organization said in a news release.

William E. Shiels II, chief of the Department of Radiology at Nationwide Children's Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, said self-embedded objects include needles, staples, paper clips, wood, stone, glass, pencil lead and crayons. The objects were embedded in the arms, ankles, feet, hands and neck.

The study looked at 19 episodes of self-embedding injury in 10 teenage girls. Interventional pediatric radiologists used ultrasound to find embedded foreign objects that were then removed through small incisions in the skin, the report said.