What appeared to be a mass of metal in his abdomen turned out to be a discovery that was hard to imagine. A 35-year-old man arrived at a hospital in Mogadishu, Somalia, with vomiting, abdominal pain, and a swollen abdomen. According to a medical report published on March 17, 2026, in Journal of Surgical Case Reports and available through the United States National Library of Medicine, examinations revealed that dozens of metal objects had accumulated inside his stomach.
The X-ray showed a concentration of metal, but an endoscopy made it possible to identify the pieces: 30 keys and two magnets. The objects had already caused small ulcers in the gastric lining, making their removal necessary to prevent complications. The images included in the scientific report show both the medical findings and the objects recovered.
The patient had schizophrenia and had gone 11 years without receiving treatment, according to the article. The medical team managed to remove all 32 pieces through an endoscopic procedure, using special instruments to extract them without the need for open surgery. Afterward, specialists carried out checks to make sure no objects remained in the stomach and to assess the affected area.
The case was documented in the medical literature because of the number and nature of the objects swallowed, as well as the procedure needed to remove them. Although the report mentions the patient’s psychiatric history, it does not establish that schizophrenia alone explains his behavior. The full report, accompanied by clinical images, can be consulted on PubMed Central.