Presentation
The patient presents with a right-sided neck mass post-total thyroidectomy.
Patient Data
The left thyroid bed appears clear in a setting of total thyroidectomy secondary to thyroid carcinoma.
The video clip demonstrates an echogenic, circumscribed mass, inferior to the right sternocleidomastoid muscle with associated posterior acoustic shadowing.
The cervical views confirm the paramidline surgical clips consistent with a history of total thyroidectomy. The serpiginous, linear, radiopaque strips of the retained surgical sponge or gauze are well-identified within the right thyroid bed. There are no associated gaseous locules.
There is a reversal of the normal cervical lordosis suggesting severe pain and or muscle spasm.
Case Discussion
Features consistent with a retained surgical swab/ gauze within the cervical soft tissues post-total thyroidectomy. The patient was non-septic and had an unremarkable recovery post-surgical removal of the retained foreign body.