Abdominal gossypibomas in Togo: computed tomography scanner findings in a series of 15 cases

Abstract

Background Gossypiboma or textiloma is an accidental retention of a textile in the operated area of the body. Abdominal surgery is the most responsible for these complication. The purpose of our study was to describe aspects observed in abdominal gossypibomas on CT-scan. Methods A retrospective study was conducted over 10 years (from January 1st, 2009 to December 31st, 2018) at the Teaching University Hospital of Lomé, including all the surgically confirmed cases of the abdominal gossypibomas who had abdominal CT-scan. Results Fifteen cases have been compiled, with a sex-ratio of 0.36. The average age of the patients was 34 years old. The initial surgery was an emergency intervention in 9/15 cases. It was a gynecological intervention in 11/15 cases. The incubation period of the symptoms related to textiloma was between 3 days and 3 years. On the CT-scan, a radiopaque marker was observed in 3/15 cases. An encapsulated and spongiform aspect in 6/15 cases. A cystic form was observed in 7/15 cases. We have noticed two cases of migration of the textiloma into a hollow organs.