Sections of small intestinal wall revealed a marked eosinophilic infiltrate throughout the lamina propria. Eosinophils were present in high numbers in all sections examined, with infiltration extending into the crypts and disrupting the normal crypt architecture in areas. Villous blunting and crypt irregularity were present, consistent with chronic mucosal injury. The degree of eosinophilic infiltration was inconsistent with a reactive response to the foreign body alone — the distribution and severity indicated a pre-existing, active inflammatory process.