Textiloma (gossypiboma) mimicking recurrent intracranial abscess

Cranial-retained surgical sponges (gossypiboma or textiloma) are rare incidents and mostly asymptomatic. However, they can be confused with other masses such as a hematoma abscess or tumor. During early stages, some gossypibomas can cause infection or abscess formation.

A 22-year-old Turkish female who had frontal lobe brain surgery to remove an abscess 2 months previously was admitted with complaints of headache and vomiting.

Gossypiboma was confirmed in the patient. Following cranial surgery, gossypiboma should be considered as a differential diagnosis of recurrence of previous surgical operations.