Introduction:
Cases of retained foreign bodies during surgery are more frequently seen in developing countries. Following surgical procedures, unintentionally retained foreign bodies can cause serious complications, in addition to medico-legal issues.
Presentation of case:
A 60-year-old man presented with abdominal cramps. He had previously undergone a laparoscopic radical right nephrectomy due to renal cell carcinoma. Abdominal tomography revealed a mass surrounding the main vascular structures with malignant features in the location of previously performed nephrectomy. Further evaluation of the mass was undertaken by PET/CT. Increased FDG uptake on the PET/CT scan suggested disease recurrence. Retroperitoneal lymph node dissection was performed. The dissection specimen was opened to determine the nature of the mass. Retained plastic foreign bodies were found. There were no malignant cells in the histopathological examination of the surgical specimen.
Discussion:
A granulomatous reaction which is mainly responsible for morbidity occurs around the foreign bodies due to the inflammatory response. These granulomas may cause confusion during patient follow-up, especially in those who have undergone major abdominal surgery due to cancer.
Conclusion:
Following surgical resection for malignancy, unintentionally retained foreign bodies can produce a moderate increase in FDG uptake mimicking disease recurrence.