Retained foreign bodies in the abdomen represent a group of pseudotumors corresponding to non-absorbent material accidentally left during the operation. They are a complication of a surgical procedure representing a new pathology for the patient, a real iatrogenic event associated with significant morbidity and mortality, which creates difficulties in diagnosis, increased costs, and potential medico-legal problems. With the advent of laparoscopic surgery (minimally invasive surgery) there has been an important diminution in the incidence of retained foreign bodies, in English the so called gossypibomas or textilomas. We report 6 cases, whose clinical course, diagnostic studies and treatment amply describe the characteristics of this type of pathology.