Type:
Educational Exhibit
Keywords:
Foreign bodies, Surgery, Medico-legal issues, Complications, Ultrasound, CT, Thorax, Abdomen
Authors:
G. G. Leal1, J. Crosta1, M. F. Mendoza Amaya1, M. A. Bastidas Armero1, G. A. Averanga Ticona1, A. Carbonell1, A. F. Parra Cataño2, F. A. Abramzon1; 1Buenos aires/AR, 2Capital Federal/AR
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2018/C-3121
Conclusion
The Gossypiboma is a subregistered and inexcusable event that represents a real problem,
because it rises the morbility of the surgery,
resulting in even death if it is not detected and solve promptly.
It is difficult to estimate the real incidence of the gossypibomas,
due to the low report,
given the medical-legal implications that can cause.
(14)
The diagnosis of a gossypiboma is not easy. The clinical presentation and the imaging findings of the gossypibomas are variable and simulate other pathologies such as tumors or abscesses.(4)
The low rate of suspicion often leads to incorrect diagnosis or lack of it.
Clinical suspicion is essential and radiologists should think about it in the face of characteristic images and a history of previous surgery.(13)
The knowledge of the typical radiological signs is critical for the diagnosis of surgically retained gauze, especially in those asymptomatic patients in which are unsuspected and they are recognized as incidental findings.
We point out the role of the imaging physician to establish the definitive diagnosis.