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The unbreakable bladder stone--Munchhausen's tale
S Lau1, P Zammit, J Bikhchandani
1Department of Urology, Lithotripsy and Stone Services, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London, UK.
This study details an unusual case of fictitious bladder stones that resisted all standard endourological treatments. These unbreakable foreign bodies highlight diagnostic challenges in urology.
Area of Science:
- Urology
- Medical Case Reports
Background:
- Intra-vesical foreign bodies are uncommon urological conditions.
- Etiologies range from iatrogenic causes to self-insertion due to various motivations.
Observation:
- A unique case of fictitious bladder stones was encountered.
- These foreign bodies presented as bladder stones but were unusually resilient.
Findings:
- Standard endourological techniques failed to break or remove the fictitious bladder stones.
- The case underscores the limitations of conventional methods in specific scenarios.
Implications:
- Highlights the importance of considering unusual etiologies for bladder foreign bodies.
- May prompt re-evaluation of diagnostic and treatment protocols for recalcitrant intra-vesical anomalies.
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