Endoscopic ultrasonography for intra-abdominal textiloma

Area of Science:

• Medical Imaging
• Surgical Complications
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Textiloma refers to a retained foreign body, often a surgical sponge, within the body after an operation.
• Intra-abdominal textilomas are uncommon but can lead to significant patient morbidity.
• Diagnostic imaging plays a crucial role in identifying these retained foreign bodies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the diagnostic capabilities of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for intra-abdominal textiloma.
• To assess EUS's effectiveness in determining the precise location of intra-abdominal textilomas.

Main Methods:

• A 57-year-old female patient with a history of abdominal surgery presented with a post-operative hernia.
• Computed tomography (CT) incidentally revealed an intra-abdominal lesion.
• Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) was performed to further characterize the lesion and guide potential fine-needle aspiration.

Main Results:

• EUS identified a hyperechoic lesion with a dense acoustic shadow between the gastric wall and the liver.
• Based on the imaging findings and surgical history, EUS strongly suspected textiloma.
• Surgical revision confirmed the presence of a textiloma in the identified location.

Conclusions:

• Endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) proved to be an accurate modality for diagnosing intra-abdominal textiloma.
• EUS precisely localized the textiloma, aiding in surgical planning and management.
• This case highlights the utility of EUS in diagnosing rare post-surgical complications.