Abstract
A 61-year-old woman presented to our cardiology department with dyspnea and nonproductive cough. She had undergone coronary artery bypass surgery 2 months earlier. She appeared ill and febrile (38.2 ℃). A faint third sound was present in cardiac auscultation. There were diminished breath sounds over the left lower lung field and some coarse crackles bilaterally. Electrocardiography did not show any changes compared to previous tracings. Chest radiography showed a well-defined haziness in the lower field of the left lung, with a radiopaque band and blunt costophrenic angle (Figure 1). The mass appeared to be posterior to the mediastinum (Figure 2). Computed tomography showed a uniformly dense mass containing air bubbles and radiopaque marker suggesting a retained surgical sponge (gossypiboma) (Figure 3). The patient underwent uneventful surgery for removal of the sponge. The postoperative course was benign.
Posteroanterior chest radiograph showing a well-defined haziness in the lower field of the left lung, with a radiopaque band. Lateral chest radiograph showing a mass posterior to the mediastinum, with radiopaque bands. Chest computed tomography showing a uniformly dense mass in the posterior mediastinum, containing air bubbles and radiopaque marker suggesting a retained surgical sponge.
Footnotes
Funding
This research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.
Conflicts of interest statement
None declared.