Oxidized cellulose-based reaction mimicking thyroidal recurrence of disease: a case report and literature review

Oxidized cellulose is a hemostatic agent currently used in surgery. Foreign body reactions have been described after its use. This paper describes a foreign body reaction caused by oxidized cellulose in a young woman who underwent thyroid surgery. A patient underwent two thyroid surgeries for treatment of papillary carcinoma. Five years after the last surgery, an asymptomatic mass was detected with a routine ultrasound in the left thyroid cavity. After surgical removal, the mass turned out to be a foreign body granuloma based on oxidized cellulose sheets used in the previous surgery. The patient was discharged from the hospital without complications. The follow-up period was uneventful. Oxidized cellulose is a useful tool in surgery to control and prevent intra and post-operative bleeding. Even if it is a biodegradable material, sometimes it persists in the human body causing foreign body reactions that can be misdiagnosed. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12070-023-03556-0.