PERIRENAL TEXTILOMA - MR AND SERIAL CT APPEARANCE

We describe changes in imaging features of a textiloma (retained surgi cal sponge or retained foreign body) left in the renal fossa after exp loratory renal surgery. One year after the initial surgery, the MR of the textiloma was not specific, with a homogeneous low signal intensit y on T1-weighted images. Serial CT examinations over 4 years demonstra ted progressive growth and calcification of the mass which appeared ps eudocystic with a peripheral inflammatory wall. Granulomas caused by a retained surgical sponge should be considered as a cause of retroperi toneal mass in patients with a history of prior surgery.