GOSSYPIBOMA: A RARE ETIOLOY OF CHRONIC DISCHARGING SINUS IN POST THYROIDECTOMY PATIENT

Hiren Debbarma*, Tarun Guha, Debaleena Dey and Bipasha Debbarma

ABSTRACT

Retained foreign body (known as gossypiboma or gauzoma or textiloma) following surgeries of the neck is rarely reported compared to intraabdominal or intrathoracic surgeries. We present a middle-aged lady who presented with persistent discharging sinus from neck 9 months after left hemithyroidectomy. MRI neck reveals left para-tracheal abscess with sinus track formation but the definitive diagnosis could only be made intra-operatively, where gauze piece was found embedded in the prior surgical site. Gossypibomas can present in a various way that can be easily missed from clinical judgement and imaging. High clinical suspicion in patients with prior history of surgery presenting with chronic discharging sinus or lump is key to diagnosing gossypiboma.

Keywords: Gossypiboma, Gauzoma, Discharging neck sinus, Thyroidectomy, Retained surgical gauze.