Stone Babies: A Pictorial Essay With Insights From 25 Museal Lithopaedions

Lucas L. Boer; Andreas Wasserscheid; Eduard Winter; Laurens de Rooy; Annelieke N. Schepens‐Franke; Giovanni Magno; Alice Cusan; Helga Rehder; Jana Behunova; Anke Scharrer; Nick Lobé; Philipp Peloschek; Roelof‐Jan Oostra; Susanne G. Kircher

doi:10.1002/bdr2.2410

journal article Open Access Oct 31, 2024

Stone Babies: A Pictorial Essay With Insights From 25 Museal Lithopaedions

Andreas Wasserscheid Eduard Winter Laurens de Rooy Annelieke N. Schepens‐Franke Giovanni Magno Alice Cusan Helga Rehder Jana Behunova Anke Scharrer Nick Lobé Philipp Peloschek Roelof‐Jan Oostra

Susanne G. Kircher

Birth Defects Research Vol. 116 No. 11 · Wiley

View at Publisher Save 10.1002/bdr2.2410

Abstract

ABSTRACTBackgroundLithopaedion, or “stone baby,” represents an exceptionally rare clinical phenomenon with fewer than 350 documented cases existing in the medical literature. This condition arises when an advanced extrauterine pregnancy ceases its developmental trajectory and undergoes a lithification process, potentially resulting in a calcified mass with fetal‐like morphology. Typically, lithopaedions remain asymptomatic for decades, but may occasionally elicit acute symptoms necessitating medical intervention. However, predominantly, these entities are incidental findings discovered during radiological examinations or autopsies.ResultsIn this article, we present a comprehensive overview of 25 lithopaedion cases, including unreported cases from several European medical museums. When feasible, additional radiological imaging was conducted to enhance diagnostic clarity. Furthermore, this article situates lithopaedions within a broader historical perspective and a detailed etiopathogenetic framework, elucidating the physiological and pathological mechanisms contributing to their formation. The phenomenon of lithopaedion is a testimony to the complex and often enigmatic nature of the human body.ConclusionsBy compiling and scrutinizing a substantial number of cases, this review offers valuable insights into the clinical implications of lithopaedions. Furthermore, it highlights the necessity for ongoing research and meticulous documentation of rare medical conditions like this, in order to contribute to a deeper understanding of extraordinary phenomena.

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Published: Oct 31, 2024
Vol/Issue: 116(11)
License: View

Authors

L

Lucas L. Boer

Department of Medical Imaging Section Anatomy and Museum for Anatomy and Pathology, Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen The Netherlands

A

Andreas Wasserscheid

Center for Pathobiochemistry and Genetics Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria

E

Eduard Winter

Pathologisch‐Anatomische Sammlung im Narrenturm‐NHM Vienna Austria

L

Laurens de Rooy

Department of Medical Biology Museum Vrolik, Amsterdam UMC Amsterdam The Netherlands

A

Annelieke N. Schepens‐Franke

Department of Medical Imaging Section Anatomy and Museum for Anatomy and Pathology, Radboud University Medical Center Nijmegen The Netherlands

G

Giovanni Magno

Morgagni Museum of Human Anatomy – University Museums Centre CAM, University of Padua Padua Italy

A

Alice Cusan

Anthropology Department, School of Social Science University of Aberdeen, King's College Aberdeen UK

H

Helga Rehder

Institute of Medical Genetics Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria

J

Jana Behunova

Institute of Medical Genetics Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria

A

Anke Scharrer

Department of Pathology Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria

N

Nick Lobé

Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine Academic Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam Amsterdam The Netherlands

P

Philipp Peloschek

Radiology Center, Wiener Privatklinik Hospital Vienna Austria

R

Roelof‐Jan Oostra

Department of Medical Biology Section Clinical Anatomy & Embryology, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Location Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam The Netherlands

S

Susanne G. Kircher

Center for Pathobiochemistry and Genetics Medical University of Vienna Vienna Austria

Cite This Article

Lucas L. Boer, Andreas Wasserscheid, Eduard Winter, et al. (2024). Stone Babies: A Pictorial Essay With Insights From 25 Museal Lithopaedions. Birth Defects Research, 116(11). https://doi.org/10.1002/bdr2.2410

Stone Babies: A Pictorial Essay With Insights From 25 Museal Lithopaedions

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