Lithopedion – A rare complication of abdominal pregnancy: A case report

Abstract

Dead foetal remains retained within the abdomen following an ectopic pregnancy leads to the formation of lithopedion, a rare entity. A 44-year-old woman sub-fertile for 16 years presented with sub-acute abdominal pain. She had not sought medical help earlier, on account of her religious or cultural beliefs. Imaging revealed a calcified mass containing bones. The differential diagnoses were lithopedion or a fetiform teratoma. During laparotomy, cutting open the mass revealed multiple long, short and flat bones, which together formed an almost complete foetal skeleton. Histopathology revealed an old ectopic gestation sac. This confirmed the diagnosis of lithopedion, estimated to be 32–34 weeks old at the time of foetal demise. This rare case highlights the impact of limited health literacy, along with strong religious and cultural influences, in delaying timely diagnosis and intervention.