A case of subtle oesophageal perforation caused by a foreign body is described. A 48-year-old woman had had a chicken bone impacted in the upper oesophagus for 4 days. At presentation, the bone was dislodged at endoscopy, and two small round depressions at opposite sides of the oesophageal wall were visible. The chest X-ray findings were normal. Computed tomography of the thorax detected a small amount of air in the mediastinum. The water-soluble contrast swallow test showed no evidence of leakage. The patient was successfully treated using conservative measures.