Ever choked on something and thought, “Whoa, that was too close”? Now, imagine the thing you swallowed not just lodging in your throat—but piercing straight through your neck, emerging through the skin. That’s exactly what happened to Samran Bubpha-art, a 45-year-old Thai woman who unknowingly swallowed a fish bone while sipping home-cooked fish soup.
The Incident: When Soup Turns Scary
It was a regular Monday. Samran had a warm bowl of fish soup, brimming with fish eggs. One of those sneaky little bones slipped down without warning—then bang, she felt a sharp stab in her throat. Naturally, she and her husband tried to push it down with more food, a common “folk remedy.” Instead of helping, the sharp spine just got more firmly lodged.
Hidden in Plain Sight: Why the X-ray Failed
They rushed to a hospital, where doctors ordered an X-ray. Guess what? Nothing showed up—the bone was too thin or poorly adsorbing radiation. Convinced it might have passed, the couple returned home. But over the next two weeks, pain and swelling set in around her neck, prompting another hospital visit. Doctors suspected thyroiditis or worse—but still found no bone.
A Shocking Discovery and Successful Removal
Just when Samran thought things couldn’t escalate further, she felt something prick through her neck skin under a medicated patch. Pulling it off, she saw it: a 2 cm fish bone poking right out of her neck. She underwent a minor surgical procedure the same day, and—luckily—walked away without lasting damage.
Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| ~June 2, 2025 | Samran eats fish soup, swallows hidden bone |
| June 2, 2025 | Sharp throat pain begins; attempts to push bone with food |
| Within hours | Initial hospital visit—X-ray shows no foreign body |
| June 16, 2025 (two weeks later) | Swelling and neck pain prompts second hospital consultation |
| June 17–18, 2025 | Bone protrudes through skin; removed surgically |
What Makes This Case So Weird
Most fish bones lodge in the upper throat and get handled quickly. Some, like in Malaysia in 2021, migrate and embed deep—like in the sternocleidomastoid muscle. Samran’s case is freaky because it pierced through skin, a first-of-its-kind for Thai doctors .
Why Imaging Can Fail
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X-rays often miss thin fish bones, especially from species like salmon or herring that don’t show up clearly.
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CT scans are better, but in Samran’s case, the bone likely migrated slowly before it became visible—or visible through skin.
What to Do If You Swallow a Fish Bone
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Stay calm. Don’t panic or try to push it down forcibly.
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Rather than folk tricks, head straight to an ER.
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Request a CT scan if throat pain persists—especially after an inconclusive X-ray.
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Watch for warning signs: swelling, fever, severe pain, difficulty breathing.
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Prompt treatment can prevent infection or more serious injuries.
Key Takeaways
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A fish bone can migrate and even pierce your neck—this isn’t just a throat story.
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Don’t ignore throat pain after eating fish; imaging may miss the culprit.
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When symptoms linger, insist on CT scanning and immediate medical care.
Conclusion
This isn’t your typical “just swallow some bread” advice gone wrong. Samran’s case is a stark reminder that small things can cause big problems. A harmless dinner turned into a surgical emergency—thankfully with a happy ending. Next time you’re eating fish, take that extra second to spot any tiny bones. Better safe than sorry!