Medical Mystery — The Answer

Abstract

The medical mystery in the October 18 issue1 involved a 78-year-old woman with hypertension and diabetes who was hospitalized with cellulitis of her left lower leg. Colicky right-flank pain associated with nausea and vomiting developed. Intravenous urography showed no evidence of calculi or ureteral obstruction. However, a lithopedion in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen was noted (Figure 1). The woman said she had had three pregnancies, all of which had resulted in term deliveries. Her menses had ceased at approximately 45 years of age. She had no history of abnormal vaginal bleeding, amenorrhea, or abdominal pain. Lithopedion is . . .