title: Intraperitoneal gossypibomas: the need to count sponges.
abstract: Intraperitoneal forgotten foreign bodies are prone to create adhesions and to encapsulate, or to provoke an exudative response, with or without accompanying bacterial infection. Often a process of self-extrusion is initiated. This is also true for gossypibomas, retained surgical sponges. Presentation is possible as a pseudotumoral, occlusive, or septic syndrome; several cases, however, have remained asymptomatic for as long as several decades. Ultrasonography and radiology (especially computed tomography) contribute significantly to the detection of gossypibomas; magnetic resonance imaging is a less used technique. Detection by plain radiography is difficult. Ultrasonography demonstrates a hyperreflective mass with hypoechoic rim and a strong posterior shadow. Computed tomography shows a well defined mass with internal heterogeneous densities. Therapy consists of operative removal of the foreign body in association with resolving its complications. Adding a series of five cases to the existing literature reports, the fate of intraperitoneal forgotten surgical sponges is reviewed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital of Antwerp, Belgium.
authors.forename: P R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Lauwers
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Van Hee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010537:Peritoneum; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology*; D015503:Surgical Sponges