Test Tools Figure 1 Quiz

[Figure 1]

A 78 year-old female presented with several weeks of abdominal pain. Physical examination

demonstrated a distended, tender, and hypertympanic abdomen. Abdominal X-Rays demonstrated

multiple air-fluid levels in the small bowel, a decompressed colon, and a 5 cm calcified mass in the

pelvis. Laparotomy was undertaken for a diagnosis of small bowel obstruction. The mass was

removed and found to be heavily calcified. What disease did the patient have, decades earlier, that

resulted in this finding?

a) Gallstone ileus

b) Dermoid cyst

c) Ectopic pregnancy

d) Ingested foreign body

Respond in the comments. Answer will be post in 24 hours.

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[evpharm]

a) Gallstone ileus

 

[Figure 1]

The correct answer is c) Ectopic pregnancy

This calcified mass is also known as a lithopedion. It is the result of an intra-abdominal pregnancy that has been calcified over time to isolate the foreign tissue. These masses often remain asymptomatic and are discovered incidentally. However, they occasionally cause intestinal obstruction due to adhesion formation.

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