MR characteristics of oxidized cellulose (Surgicel)

OBJECTIVE. Oxidized regenerated cellulose (Surgicel) is one of the most com monly used bioabsorbable topical hemostatic agents. Surgicel may mimic an a bscess on both CT and sonography when a patient undergoes imaging early in the postoperative period. The objective of our study was to describe the ap pearance of Surgicel on postoperative MR imaging. CONCLUSION, Surgicel has a short relaxation time on T2-weighted images, res ulting in low signal intensity in the early postoperative period. MR imagin g may be helpful in differentiating Surgicel from an abscess and therefore in preventing unnecessary attempts at aspiration.