MR and CT imaging of paraspinal textiloma (gossypiboma)

Abstract

This report describes two cases of textiloma (gossypiboma, foreign body granuloma). These so-called "cottonoids" (Codman, U.S.A.) were inadvertently left behind in the operation wound following spinal surgery for an intervertebral disk herniation. Both textilomas were located paraspinally. These relatively uncommon lesions should be differentiated from paraspinal tumors, as well as from other postoperative complications, such as scar formation. Although plain radiography generally gives a characteristic image due to a marking filament, the CT and especially MR findings are less well known.