13-Year-Old Gauzoma as a Complication of Breast Augmentation Surgery

Background 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. Conclusions 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.