How Do You Spell LITHOPEDION?

Pronunciation: [lɪθˈə͡ʊpdi͡ən] (IPA)

The spelling of the word "Lithopedion" can be quite confusing for those unfamiliar with medical terminology. This term refers to a rare medical condition in which a fetus is not expelled from the body and calcifies within the mother's abdomen. The correct pronunciation is [lih-thoh-PEE-dee-on]. The first part of the word "litho" means "stone," and the second part "pedion" means "child." Together, they describe the phenomenon of a "stone child" or a fetus that has turned into a calcified mass within the mother's body.

LITHOPEDION Meaning and Definition

1. Lithopedion is a rare medical condition characterized by the presence of a calcified fetus within the abdomen of a woman. The term "lithopedion" is derived from the Greek words "lithos" meaning stone and "paidion" meaning child. Also known as a "stone baby," it occurs when a fetal death occurs during pregnancy following ectopic implantation or abdominal pregnancy. This condition usually happens when the fetus remains in the abdominal cavity following rupture of the fallopian tube or uterine rupture, leading to the death of the fetus.

   Over time, as the fetal tissues decompose, the body reacts by forming a layer of calcium around it, creating a calcified mass resembling stone. This process serves as a protective mechanism, preventing infection and the spread of debris within the abdomen. Lithopedion may remain undiagnosed until several years or even decades later when symptoms such as abdominal pain or a mass become apparent.

   The removal of a lithopedion is typically considered unnecessary unless it causes severe symptoms or complications, as it is usually considered a harmless and self-limiting condition over time. Surgical intervention may be required in some cases to alleviate symptoms or prevent complications such as infection or inflammation.

   Due to its rarity and unique nature, lithopedion is of significant interest to medical professionals and researchers, who study it to gain insights into the body's adaptive and protective mechanisms in reaction to fetal death in an ectopic pregnancy.

Common Misspellings for LITHOPEDION

• kithopedion
• pithopedion
• oithopedion
• luthopedion
• ljthopedion
• lkthopedion
• lothopedion
• l9thopedion
• l8thopedion
• lirhopedion
• lifhopedion
• lighopedion
• liyhopedion
• li6hopedion
• li5hopedion
• litgopedion
• litbopedion
• litnopedion
• litjopedion
• lituopedion

Etymology of LITHOPEDION

The word "Lithopedion" is derived from the combination of two Greek words: "lithos", meaning stone, and "pedion", meaning child or fetus. "Lithopedion" is a medical term used to describe a rare condition where a fetus that has died during pregnancy becomes calcified and is retained within the mother's body.

Similar spelling word for LITHOPEDION

• Lithopaedion.