title: A large encapsulated seroma presenting as a mass 5 years post paraumbilical hernia repair.
abstract: Abdominoplasty is a procedure commonly performed by the modern reconstructive plastic surgeon, but despite its apparent routine nature complications are well documented in the literature and should be respected by even the most experienced plastic surgeon. Seroma is one of the most common complications known, however, most seromas usually occur within a few months following the primary procedure, are easily identifiable clinically as seroma and respond to simple aspiration, or resolve without any further intervention. We report the case of a 55-year-old female who presented with an unusual large abdominal mass 5 years following paraumbilical hernia repair and which was initially presumed to be an ovarian tumour. Following further investigation of this extensive mass, an abdominoplasty approach was used resulting in the removal of a large encapsulated seroma weighing over 5 kg and measuring 50 cm in length.
authors.affiliation: St Andrew's Centre for Burns & Plastic Surgery, Broomfield Hospital, Court Road, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 7ET, United Kingdom. rcaulfield@talk21.com
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Caulfield
authors.forename: Atoussa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maleki-Tabrizi
authors.forename: Farrukh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: Venkat
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ramakrishnan
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006554:Hernia, Umbilical / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery; D011184:Postoperative Period; D049291:Seroma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed