title: Gossypibomas mimicking a splenic hydatid cyst and ileal tumor : a case report and literature review.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Gossypiboma is a term used to describe a retained surgical swab in the body after a surgical procedure. Gossypiboma is a rare surgical complication, but can cause significant morbidity and mortality. It may be a diagnostic dilemma with associated medico-legal implications, and is usually discovered during the first few days after surgery; however, it may remain undetected for many years.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a gossypiboma case immigrating to small intestine, as well as a literature review of studies published in the English language on intraluminal migration of gossypiboma, accessed through PubMed and Google Scholar databases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Case of a 51-year-old man who was admitted due to vomiting, abdominal distension, and pain. He had a history of abdominal trauma 8 years previously, and surgery had been performed at another hospital. The physical examination revealed muscular guarding and rebound tenderness in the right lower quadrant. A splenic hydatid cyst and ileal calcified mass were suspected based on results of abdominal computed tomography. Therefore, a laparotomy was performed. Segmental ileal resection, end-to-end anastomosis, and splenectomy were performed. The final diagnosis was gossypiboma in both the spleen and ileum. We performed a systemic review of the English-language literature between 2000 and 2010 in PubMed and Google Scholar, and we found 45 cases of transmural migration of surgical sponges following abdominal surgery. Three cases in which the gossypiboma was located in the spleen are also discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Gossypiboma should be considered as a differential diagnosis of any postoperative patient who presents with pain, infection, or a palpable mass.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Diyarbakir Education and Research Hospital, 21400 Kayapinar, Diyarbakir, Turkey. akbulutsami@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sami
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Akbulut
authors.forename: Zulfu
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Arikanoglu
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yagmur
authors.forename: Murat
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Basbug
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007077:Ileal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013158:Splenic Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D015503:Surgical Sponges