Gossypiboma

Changed by Tim Luijkx, 23 Dec 2014

Updates to Article Attributes

Body was changed:

A gossypiboma (textilomaor cottonoid) refers to a foreign object, such as a mass of cotton matrix or a sponge, that is left behind in a body cavity during an operation. It is an uncommon surgical complication.

The manifestations and complications of gossypibomas are so variable that diagnosis may be difficult and patient morbidity is significant.

Frequent sites of gossypiboma formation include:

  • thoracic cavity
    • pleural cavity
    • pericardial cavity
  • abdominal cavity

Theatre 'swab counts' at the end of a procedure before 'closing up' are typically undertaken to prevent retained foreign bodies.

Pathology

Gossypibomas cause two types of responses in the body: exudative and aseptic fibrous. Aseptic gossypibomas can have adhesions, encapsulation, and eventually granuloma formation. Exudative gossypibomas, however, usually occur early in the postoperative period and may involve secondary bacterial contamination, which can result in various fistulas.

Rarely, a foreign body may completely migrate into the ileum without any apparent opening in the intestinal wall. If it cannot pass the ileocaecal valve it can cause complete intestinal obstruction at this level. However, if it passes through this valve, it is then easily discharged through the anus.

An infrequently reported possible complication of a retained surgical sponge is the development of an angiosarcoma 4.

Radiographic features

CT

Gossypibomas are most frequently discovered in the abdomen. Characteristic CT features of abdominal gossypibomas include:

  • spongiform appearance with gas bubbles
  • low-density mass with a thin enhancing capsule
  • calcifications deposited along the network architecture of a surgical sponge

A sponge left within the pleural space shows no gas lucencies due to resorption of the air by the pleura.

MRI

Signal characteristics vary depending on the content. Commonly reported features include 1:

  • T1: typically low signal
  • T2: low signal with whorled stripes in the central portion
  • T1 C+ (Gd): enhancement and in some cases a serrated border to the inner wall

Differential diagnosis

Foreign bodies like these can often mimic tumours or abscesses clinically or radiologically.

Historical contextHistory and etymology

The term gossypiboma is derived from the Latin word "gossypium", which means cotton, and the Swahili word "boma", which means place of concealment, thus referring to a retained sponge in the surgical bed.

  • -</ul><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><p>Foreign bodies like these can often mimic tumours or abscesses clinically or radiologically.</p><h4>Historical context</h4><p>The term <strong>gossypiboma</strong> is derived from the Latin word "gossypium", which means cotton, and the Swahili word "boma", which means place of concealment, thus referring to a retained sponge in the surgical bed.</p>
  • +</ul><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><p>Foreign bodies like these can often mimic tumours or abscesses clinically or radiologically.</p><h4>History and etymology</h4><p>The term <strong>gossypiboma</strong> is derived from the Latin word "gossypium", which means cotton, and the Swahili word "boma", which means place of concealment, thus referring to a retained sponge in the surgical bed.</p>

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