Lithopedion
Lithopedion
Lithopedion (pronounced: li-tho-pee-don), also known as a stone baby, is a rare phenomenon which occurs most commonly when a fetus dies during an ectopic pregnancy, is too large to be reabsorbed by the body, and calcifies on the outside, shielding the mother's body from the dead tissue of the baby and preventing infection.
Etymology
The term "Lithopedion" comes from the Greek words "lithos" meaning stone, and "paidion" meaning child, thus translating to "stone baby".
Occurrence and Diagnosis
Lithopedion is extremely rare, with only about 300 cases reported in medical history. It can remain undiagnosed for decades, and is often discovered incidentally during routine radiography. The diagnosis is usually confirmed by ultrasound, CT scan, or MRI.
Treatment
Treatment of a lithopedion often involves surgical removal, although in some cases, if the stone baby does not cause any discomfort or complications, doctors may leave it in place.
Related Terms
- Ectopic pregnancy: A pregnancy that occurs outside the womb, usually in one of the fallopian tubes.
- Calcification: The accumulation of calcium salts in body tissue. It can occur in a wide variety of diseases and conditions.
- Radiography: The use of X-rays or other forms of radiation to view the internal structures of the body.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Lithopedion
- Wikipedia's article - Lithopedion
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski