Abstract: A surgical towel useful in surgical applications. The surgical towel has opposed surfaces and a plurality of edges. At least one pair of edges that are adjacent to one another are folded inwardly and secured to a surface to entirely enclose and retain a rigid radiopaque detection element at a corner of the towel. When so retained, a first portion of the detection element extends partially along a first edge of the pair of adjacent edges and a second portion of the detection element extends partially along a second edge of the pair of adjacent edges. The detection element is sized and shaped to inhibit potential injury to a patient being caused by the detection element if the surgical towel is temporarily left in a surgical cavity. Multiple detection elements may be so enclosed and retained.