Lithokelyphos. A case report and literature review

Area of Science:

• Reproductive medicine
• Gynecology
• Obstetrics

Background:

• Abdominal pregnancy is a rare obstetric complication where the fetus implants outside the uterus, typically in the peritoneal cavity.
• While most abdominal pregnancies are diagnosed early, extremely rare cases of late-term or retained abdominal pregnancies exist.

Observation:

• A unique case of a patient presenting with a retained abdominal pregnancy that had persisted for an unprecedented 29 years.
• The patient's presentation involved a long-standing intra-abdominal pregnancy, a condition with significant diagnostic and management challenges.

Findings:

• The case underscores the extreme rarity of abdominal pregnancies, particularly those retained for decades.
• Diagnostic and management strategies for long-term retained abdominal pregnancies require careful consideration due to potential complications.

Implications:

• This case provides valuable insights into the long-term sequelae and potential clinical presentations of extremely rare retained abdominal pregnancies.
• Highlights the importance of considering rare diagnoses in complex gynecological and abdominal presentations, even after many years.