A CASE OF CYSTIC GRANULOMA DUE TO A FOREIGN BODY

A case of cystic tumor due to a retained surgical sponge is reported. A 47-year-old man who had a surgery for gastric ulcer 6 years befor was seen at the department with a diagnosis of pancreatic systic tumor which was made elsewhere. With some examinations the patient was diagnosed as foreign body granuloma and operated on. An elliptical shadow with smooth surface was seen in a abdominal X-ray film. But the main pancreatic duct was normal in ERCP examination. The original organ of the tumor was not able to be determined by angiography. Ultrasonography visualized cystic mass with distinct internal echoes and the internal echoes were occationally curvelinear in shape and floating. Foreign body granuloma is not a common entity. When we encounter a patient with these characteristic findings who has a previous history of undergoing laparotomy, the correct diagnosis can be made by entertaining a possibility of this rare disease.