TEXTILOMA: EPIDEMIOLOGICAL ASPECTS, DIAGNOSTIC PITFALLS AND FORENSIC IMPLICATIONS: ABOUT 5 CASES

Abstract

Introduction: Textiloma is a surgical complication resulting from foreign materials, such as a surgical sponge,
accidentally left inside a patient’s body. Its actual incidence is difficult to determine. It can often present, clinically or radiologically, similar to tumors or abscesses, with
widely variable complications and manifestations,
making diagnosis difficult.
Objective: This study aimed to stress out the diagnostic
pitfalls and to discuss its medico-legal implications.
Material and methods: This study is retrospective including five cases of textiloma collected in the department of
anatomy and cytology of the university hospital of
Fattouma Bourguiba Monastir (Tunisia) during a
period of 20 years. Diagnosis was made after histological
tests. Non-textile foreign bodies were excluded from this
study. Data collection was summarized from files of anatomy and cytology department, clinical records of
patients and operative reports.
Results: The average age of our study population was 55
years. All patients were female. The textiloma was discovered beyond six months in all cases with extreme up to
24 years. History of gynecological surgery was noted in 3
cases and abdominal surgery in 2 cases. Clinically, 4
patients consulted for intra-abdominal mass lesion.
Radiologically, the diagnosis was misidentified in all
cases. Therefore, histological examination of the removed
mass helped to make the diagnosis.