Retained surgical sponges after laparotomy: computed tomography appearance

The diagnosis of postsurgery foreign body was made in three patients based in the CT findings. CT showed well defined, encapsulated masses with low and medium densites. One of these cases had a sponge like pattern and the other two presented with non-homogeneous density and gas bubbles. After intravenous contrast medium injection there was peripheral enhancement in all cases. US was done in one patient and revealed a non-homogeneous mass with focal area of echogenicity associated with posterior acoustical shadowing without evidence of gas or calcium. The findings above described in patients with previous surgery should suggest the diagnosis of foreign body caused by surgical sponge or gauze. (author)