Lujain Lataifeh, Isam Lataifeh, Malak Issa and Afnaan Horani*
Background: Silver-coated dressings, commonly used in wound care for their antimicrobial properties, can create imaging artifacts that may be mistaken for a contrast leak during radiographic studies. This can lead to unnecessary investigations and interventions.
Case presentation: A 51-year-old obese woman who underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy developed purulent discharge from her wound 9 days post-surgery. Initial CT with contrast suggested a contrast leak, possibly an enterocutaneous fistula. However, after clinical correlation, the radiology team determined the opacity was a misinterpretation. A follow-up CT without contrast showed the opacity persisted, confirming no bowel leakage. The wound was treated with a vacuum dressing to promote healing
Conclusion: This report highlights how silver-coated wound dressings and Povidone Iodine can cause radiographic artifacts that resemble contrast leaks on CT scans, leading to potential misinterpretation. It stresses the importance of radiologist awareness and the use of baseline imaging before contrast to avoid misdiagnosis and inappropriate management.
Published Date: 2025-03-11; Received Date: 2025-02-11
