Gossypiboma

Case contributed by Dr. Hussain Addai Aljabery
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Young female with lower abdominal pain and pyrexia, 1-month post-cesarian section surgery.

Patient Data

Age: 25 years
Gender: Female
x-ray
Frontal
Lateral
Frontal
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Info

Abdominal X-ray demonstrates irregular linear high-density mass in the pelvic area. 

Photograph
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Info

Large retained surgical sponge missed after previous operation.  

Case Discussion

Gossypiboma is the technical term for a surgical sponge accidentally left inside a patient's body. It is derived from the Latin word "gossypinus" meaning cotton plant and the Swahili ‬"boma". Generally, the number of occurrences is between 3000 and 5000 cases a year. It is identified on plain radiography by noting their radiopaque marker strip.

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