Ultrasonography in the detection of intra-abdominal retained surgical sponges.

Six cases of confirmed retained surgical sponges are reviewed. In five patients a clean, clear-cut acoustic shadow could be identified in relation to a palpable mass. In four of these patients the sponges were identified preoperatively by their ultrasonographic appearance. Abdominal radiographs were usually obtained afterwards, to confirm the diagnostic impression or to rule out bowel gas or calcifications. Since this ultrasonographic finding has not been described previously, the authors call attention to it in order to prevent misdiagnosis.