Authors
Stefanos Vourtsis, Sheila Veronese
Published in
Aesthetic plastic surgery. Sep 08, 2026. Epub Sep 08, 2026.
Abstract
Gauzoma is a rare iatrogenic complication resulting from the inadvertent retention of surgical gauze after an operative procedure. In breast augmentation surgery, diagnosis may be particularly challenging because imaging findings can mimic other postoperative conditions METHODS : We report the case of a patient who developed a gauzoma 13 years after breast augmentation surgery. Clinical evaluation and multiple imaging studies were performed to investigate a retro-implant mass and establish the diagnosis. RESULTS : A retained surgical gauze was identified 13 years after the initial breast augmentation procedure. The retro-implant location of the lesion complicated radiologic interpretation, leading to diagnostic uncertainty despite extensive imaging assessment. Surgical exploration confirmed the diagnosis of gauzoma.
Gauzoma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of atypical peri-implant masses, even many years after breast augmentation surgery. Retro-implant localization may obscure imaging findings and delay diagnosis, underscoring the importance of maintaining a high index of suspicion in patients with a history of breast surgery.
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PMID:
42711474
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 09 Sep 2026.
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