Textiloma complicated by abscess-formation, three years after surgical repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm.
This report deals with a late complication of open surgery for inflammatory abdominal aortic aneurysm. A surgical sponge was retained and three years later, the patient presented with acute onset of back pain. Radiological evaluation by means of abdominal plain film and CT-scan, respectively revealed metallic wires projecting in the left hypochondrium and a rounded hypodense mass-lesion located retroperitoneally above the left kidney, containing the metallic wires and presenting with a contrast-enhancing peripheral rim, corresponding to abscess-formation around the retained sponge. The patient was treated by surgical retrieval of the sponge and drainage of the abscess. The aim of this report is to highlight the importance of both abdominal plain film and CT-scan in the detection of a potential textiloma after aortic surgery, even in case of late clinical presentation.
Department of Radiology, University Hospitals Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, B-3000 Leuven, Belgium. steven.haegeman@uz.kuleuven.ac.be
S
S
Haegeman
G
G
Maleux
S
S
Heye
K
K
Daenens
D000038:Abscess / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D000368:Aged; D017544:Aortic Aneurysm, Abdominal / Q000601:surgery; D015745:Granuloma, Foreign-Body / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space; D015503:Surgical Sponges / Q000009:adverse effects*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed