A Huge Intra-Abdominal Mass Associated with Long-Term Surgical Gauze Retention in a Toy Breed Dog

Abstract

A 1.83 kg, 9-year-old, spayed female Yorkshire Terrier was referred to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital of Konkuk University for evaluation of an intra-abdominal mass with a week history of vomiting and diarrhea. On physical examination, survey radiography, abdominal ultrasonography, and computed tomography, a huge firm mass was identified in the mid-caudal abdomen. Surgical exploration of the abdominal cavity was performed to remove the mass. The encapsulated mass adhered to the mesentery, tail of the spleen, small intestine, omentum, and right lobe of the pancreas was removed using blunt dissection with dry gauze and cotton swabs. Macroscopic and histopathological examination revealed that the mass was foreign-body granuloma consistent with gauze fiber. Plain abdominal radiography demonstrated no remarkable findings 8 months post-operatively. There was no evidence of vomiting, diarrhea, coughing, difficulty breathing, and cyanosis on exertion 13 months post-operatively.