SEPTIC RETROPERITONEAL FOCUS

Retained surgical towels (gossypiboma) present a diagnostic problem if they remain asymptomatic for many years. We report on one 51 year old patient with repeated septic temperatures in the early post-operative phase after hemicolectomy. The contrast enhanced CT of the abdomen re vealed a well defined round soft-tissue mass with a dense, enhanced wa ll containing an internal high density wavy and striped area. At lapar otomy a secondary infected surgical sponge with abscess formation was found.