title: Oxidized regenerated cellulose resembling vaginal cuff abscess.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Application of oxidized regenerated cellulose is commonly performed in laparoscopy to achieve hemostasis during surgery. The appearance of an abscess resembles oxidized regenerated cellulose, causing imaging studies to be difficult to interpret.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe the cases of 3 patients who underwent oxidized regenerated cellulose placement during laparoscopic gynecologic surgery. They subsequently presented with signs and symptoms resembling an abscess. Computed tomographic imaging can be challenging to interpret in such cases; radiologic findings can be used to differentiate between the characteristics of oxidized regenerated cellulose and those of abscess formation on the vaginal cuff.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oxidized regenerated cellulose has an appearance that often mimics postsurgical abscess formation. There are distinct characteristics that distinguish both findings. It is essential that patients' records accurately describe the presence and location of regenerated oxidized cellulose when placed intraoperatively, and this information must be relayed to the interpreting radiologist to facilitate medical diagnosis and guide clinical management.
authors: Division of Urogynecology and Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine, 500 University Dr, Hershey, PA 17033-0850, USA. mtam@hmc.psu.edu.
authors: Teresa
authors: T
authors: Tam
authors: Division of Urogynecology and Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.
authors: Gerald
authors: G
authors: Harkins
authors: Department of General Diagnostic Radiology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Dykes
authors: Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.
authors: Allison
authors: A
authors: Gockley
authors: Division of Urogynecology and Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA, USA.
authors: Matthew
authors: M
authors: Davies
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000175:diagnosis*; D000328:Adult; D002483:Cellulose, Oxidized; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D006490:Hemostatics; D006801:Humans; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014623:Vaginal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D002483:Cellulose, Oxidized; D006490:Hemostatics