Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine, Vol 3, Issue 4 173-176, Copyright © 1984 by American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine
Ultrasonography in the detection of intra-abdominal retained surgical sponges
P. Barriga and C. Garcia
Six cases of confirmed retained surgical sponges are reviewed. In five
patients a clean, clear-cut acoustic shadow could be identified in relation
to a palpable mass. In four of these patients the sponges were identified
preoperatively by their ultrasonographic appearance. Abdominal radiographs
were usually obtained afterwards, to confirm the diagnostic impression or
to rule out bowel gas or calcifications. Since this ultrasonographic
finding has not been described previously, the authors call attention to it
in order to prevent misdiagnosis.