Gossypiboma, Mimicking a Mesenteric Tumour: A Case Report

Authors

  • Horace Agada Department of surgery, DASH lafia
  • Lazarus Babangida Adokwe Department of Surgery, DASH, Lafia, Nasarawa State.

Keywords:

Chronic granuloma, Intra-abdominal mass, Mesenteric mass

Abstract

 Gossypiboma refers to a retained surgical textile in body tissue and cavity after an operation. It is an
infrequent and potentially preventable post-operative complication due to medical error. The presence of
retained surgical material within the body tissue can incite an aseptic but fibroblastic reaction resulting in
the formation of a chronic granuloma, which may present in the form of a pseudo-tumour several months
to years after the surgical procedure.
We report the case of a 42-year-old woman who presented with a painless intra-abdominal mass one year
after undergoing myomectomy for symptomatic uterine fibroid in a private hospital. A presumptive
diagnosis of the mesenteric tumour was made on the basis of pre- and intra-operative findings. However,
the histopathological diagnosis confirmed a gossypiboma.
This case highlights the need to consider gossypiboma as a differential diagnosis in post-operative
patients presenting with intra-abdominal mass. The highly variable characteristics of this condition both
clinically and radiologically warrant a high index of suspicion, early recognition, and prompt surgical
intervention to reduce the morbidity and mortality associated with it.

Author Biography

  • Lazarus Babangida Adokwe, Department of Surgery, DASH, Lafia, Nasarawa State.

    Department of Surgery

    Registrar

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Published

2025-03-27

How to Cite

Gossypiboma, Mimicking a Mesenteric Tumour: A Case Report. (2025). Ethiopian Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, 4(1), 414-418. https://journals.hu.edu.et/hu-journals/index.php/ejmhs/article/view/1245

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