Pulmonary textiloma revealed by hemoptysis 12 years after thoracotomy

• Published in: La revue de medecine interne Vol. 19; no. 11; pp. 826 - 829
• Main Authors: Hadrami, J, Rojas, M, de Fenoyl, O, Kharsa, G, Marzelle, J, Chotard, Y
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: French
• Published: France 01.11.1998
• Subjects: Follow-Up Studies; Granuloma, Foreign-Body - diagnostic imaging; Granuloma, Foreign-Body - etiology; Granuloma, Foreign-Body - surgery; Humans; Lung Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Lung Diseases - etiology; Lung Diseases - surgery; Male; Middle Aged; Radiography; Surgical Sponges - adverse effects; Thoracotomy - adverse effects; Time Factors; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - diagnosis
• ISSN: 0248-8663
• DOI: 10.1016/S0248-8663(98)80388-3

Pulmonary textiloma or retained surgical sponge is rare but can have detrimental consequences. Its diagnosis is difficult, even when using computerized tomography (CT) scan and is always a medical and legal problem. We report the case of a 46-year-old man with a history of pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosed by thoracotomy in 1986, who was admitted to hospital for hemoptysis. CT scan showed the existence of a pulmonary lesion. Clinical, radiological and fiberoptic endoscopy features mimicked an abscess or bronchiectasis. The patient underwent left inferior lobectomy. Anatomical findings led to the diagnosis of textiloma. This case shows the difficult in diagnosing pulmonary textiloma, even when using CT scan. Textiloma should be considered when an atypical pulmonary mass is found in a patient with past history of thoracotomy.