Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Dog develops abdominal lump from retained Surgicel after liver surgery
By Seok, J et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2026·Department of Veterinary Surgery, South Korea·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Encapsulated granuloma (surgiceloma) caused by retained Surgicel® following liver lobectomy in a dog: a case report.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 12-year-old dog had surgery to remove part of its liver due to cancer, and a product called Surgicel was used to help stop bleeding. Three months later, the dog was found to have a mass in its abdomen that looked concerning on imaging tests. After surgery to remove this mass, it was determined to be Surgicel that had not dissolved properly, causing inflammation. While Surgicel is usually safe, it can sometimes cause issues like this, leading to confusion about whether there is a serious problem. The dog recovered after the mass was removed.
People also search for: dog abdominal mass after surgery · dog liver cancer treatment · what is Surgicel in dogs
Abstract
A 12-year-old dog underwent liver lobectomy for hepatocellular carcinoma, and Surgicel® was used intraoperatively for haemostasis. Three months after surgery, computed tomography revealed a solitary abdominal mass, which was surgically removed. Histopathology identified the mass as retained Surgicel® surrounded by granulomatous inflammation. Although Surgicel® is generally considered safe, retained material may mimic abscess, haematoma or tumour recurrence on imaging. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first veterinary case describing an encapsulated granuloma caused by retained Surgicel® in a dog. This case highlights that Surgicel® may persist and induce granulomatous inflammation, mimicking significant postoperative complications on imaging. Accurate intraoperative documentation and awareness of this potential pitfall are essential to prevent misdiagnosis and avoid unnecessary procedures.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41218831/