Intraperitoneal gossypibomas: the need to count sponges

Intraperitoneal forgotten foreign bodies are prone to create adhesions and to encapsulate, or to provoke an exudative response, with or without accompanying bacterial infection. Often a process of self-extrusion is initiated. This is also true for gossypibomas, retained surgical sponges. Presentation is possible as a pseudotumoral, occlusive, or septic syndrome; several cases, however, have remained asymptomatic for as long as several decades. Ultrasonography and radiology (especially computed tomography) contribute significantly to the detection of gossypibomas; magnetic resonance imaging is a less used technique. Detection by plain radiography is difficult. Ultrasonography demonstrates a hyperreflective mass with hypoechoic rim and a strong posterior shadow. Computed tomography shows a well defined mass with internal heterogeneous densities. Therapy consists of operative removal of the foreign body in association with resolving its complications. Adding a series of five cases to the existing literature reports, the fate of intraperitoneal forgotten surgical sponges is reviewed.