Intrauterine Tampon Identified on CT as an Intrauterine Foreign Body Associated With Bilateral Leg Edema: A Case...

Foreign bodies retained within the vaginal canal are relatively common in gynecological practice, particularly forgotten vaginal tampons, which are well known to cause localized pelvic infection and life-threatening toxic shock syndrome. However, the transcervical intrauterine migration and retention of a tampon is exceptionally rare, as the cervical canal typically acts as a robust mechanical barrier.

I report the case of a 32-year-old multiparous woman presenting with lower abdominal pain and acute bilateral leg edema. Due to the presence of systemic edema, computed tomography (CT) was utilized as the primary imaging modality to rule out vascular emergencies. The CT scan revealed a hyperdense intrauterine foreign body, later confirmed via speculum examination to be a tampon.

This case emphasizes the importance of considering retained foreign bodies in reproductive-aged women with unexplained pelvic symptoms and highlights the invaluable role of cross-sectional imaging in diagnosis when atypical systemic symptoms, such as venous compression resulting in edema, divert initial clinical suspicion. Adherence to the CARE guidelines for clinical case reporting was maintained throughout this manuscript.