Somaliland doctors remove calcified fetus from woman

Medical specialists from Hargeisa Group Hospital and Amoud University have successfully removed a calcified fetus, known as a litopedion or “stone baby,” from the abdomen of a 42-year-old woman in Somaliland.

The patient had experienced constant abdominal pain and heaviness for three years. She reported that a previous pregnancy had ceased spontaneously, but she did not seek medical attention at the time due to a lack of resources. A 3D CT scan revealed an 18 by 12 centimeter mass outside the uterus containing identifiable skeletal structures, including the skull, spine, ribs, and long bones.

Litopedion is an extremely rare complication of ectopic pregnancy. It occurs when a fetus develops outside the uterus and dies, but is too large to be reabsorbed by the body. To prevent infection, the mother's body naturally coats the dead tissue in calcium to isolate it.