Gossypiboma mimicking a hydatid cyst: A case report

Retained foreign bodies have become very rare in countries where the safety rules in the operating theater are very rigorous and follow precise guidelines. Maintaining awareness of this issue among surgeons and radiologists is of paramount importance to minimize avoidable morbidity and facilitate the selection of the most suitable therapeutic strategy. This consideration is particularly relevant in the differential diagnosis of hydatid cysts. This study describes a case of intra-abdominal gossypiboma, which mimicked hydatid cyst on preoperative assessment.

We report the case of a 63-year-old female who was referred to our department for the management of a hepatic hydatid cyst. She has history of open cholecystectomy and oophorocystectomy. During the intervention, we discovered a 10 cm mass located in the interhepatogastric region. Complete resection of the mass was performed, and pathology results were compatible with a piece of gauze surrounded by reactive changes (gossypiboma).

Gossypiboma is undeniably a source of concern for surgeons. It's a genuine and serious surgical complication which can potentially arise from any type of surgery and may manifest with diverse complaints. However, it is crucial to emphasize that this complication is preventable with the primary preventive measure being meticulous counting of surgical materials during the procedure.

The potential embarrassment experienced by the surgeon and the significant legal consequences associated with this iatrogenic complication are substantial. Hence, it becomes imperative to adopt all requisite preventive measures to avert such incidents, as there is no excuse that can justify their occurrence.