A 42-year-old woman in Somaliland was found to have been carrying the calcified remains of a fetus in her abdomen for approximately three years after an apparent pregnancy ended without medical attention.
The case was reported by Live Science , citing a medical study published in the International Medical Case Reports Journal . Doctors diagnosed lithopedion, a condition in which a fetus dies during an abdominal pregnancy and becomes calcified rather than being absorbed by the mother’s body. In such cases, calcium gradually builds up around the retained fetal remains, helping isolate them from surrounding tissues. She experienced a mild fever and nausea the following day, but both symptoms resolved with treatment. She was subsequently discharged in good condition. The researchers highlighted the importance of accessible prenatal healthcare and early pregnancy scans, particularly in resource-limited regions where such complications may remain undetected.
Approximately 330 to 340 cases of lithopedion have been documented over the past four centuries, according to the published medical case report. Unlike many previously reported cases involving older women who unknowingly carried fetal remains for decades, this patient was diagnosed at 42 after approximately three years.
The rare condition, known as a “stone baby” or lithopedion, came to light when she sought treatment for persistent abdominal pain.
