Imaging of retained surgical swabs (gossypiboma)

Inadvertent retention of surgical swabs, also called gossypiboma, is an uncommon but concerning problem in veterinary practice. Despite characteristic imaging findings in many cases, gossypibomas can be mistaken for neoplasia, abscess or haematoma. An awareness of the imaging findings is likely to reduce the frequency of misdiagnosis and facilitate prompt intervention or prevent unnecessary euthanasia. The most characteristic imaging findings are a whirl-like gas pattern on radiographs, a mass with acoustic shadowing on ultrasound, a spongiform gas pattern or ring enhancing mass on computed tomography and wavy hypointensity within a mass on T2W magnetic resonance imaging sequences. Aust Vet Pract 2012;42(4):335-338