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Related Experiment Videos

Lithopedion: a case report.

N Lachman1, K S Satyapal, J M Kalideen

  • 1Department of Human Biology, Technikon Natal, Durban, South Africa. NirushaL@umfolozi.ntech.ac.za

Clinical Anatomy (New York, N.Y.)
|January 3, 2001
PubMed
Summary
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A rare case of lithopedion, a calcified fetus retained for decades, presented as severe abdominal pain in an 80-year-old woman. Imaging confirmed a 40-year-old extrauterine fetus with extensive calcification.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Imaging
  • Radiology
  • Pathology

Background:

  • Lithopedion, a rare complication of pregnancy, involves a fetus becoming calcified after dying in utero.
  • Retained calcified fetuses can remain asymptomatic for decades or cause complications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To report a unique case of lithopedion presenting with severe abdominal pain.
  • To highlight the diagnostic imaging findings of a long-retained, calcified extrauterine fetus.

Main Methods:

  • Ultrasound examination to identify abdominal masses.
  • Abdominal radiography (X-ray) to visualize calcified structures and skeletal anomalies.
  • Assessment of fetal age through calcification patterns and dentition.

Main Results:

Related Experiment Videos

  • An 80-year-old woman presented with severe abdominal pain.
  • Ultrasound revealed a large (20x20 cm) echogenic mass.
  • X-ray confirmed a fully developed, hyper-flexed extrauterine fetus with extensive subcutaneous, visceral, and intracranial calcification, presumed to be retained for at least 40 years.

Conclusions:

  • Lithopedion is a rare but significant condition that can present decades after conception.
  • Advanced imaging techniques are crucial for diagnosing long-term retained calcified fetuses.
  • This case underscores the importance of considering rare obstetric complications in patients with chronic abdominal pain.