VietNamNet Bridge – A 76 year-old Cam Ranh woman was shocked when doctors informed her that the cause of the pain in her pelvis was not a tumor - but a baby.

The "stone baby" in Mrs. Sau's belly.

Mrs. Nguyen Thi Sau, of Cam Loc Ward, Cam Ranh City, in Khanh Hoa Province was diagnosed with a calcified pregnancy, a rarity in the world, and something unheard of in Vietnam, up till now.

On March 22, Sau was suddenly overtaken by pain in her waist and lower abdomen. She was brought to Cam Ranh Hospital.

An X-ray scan revealed a 20x20cm solid tumor in the pelvic area. Further examination revealed a fetal skeleton in the tumor. Two days later, Sau had an MRI scan, and the diagnosis was confirmed. She was carrying a “stone baby”, and had been doing so for decades.

Sau informed doctors that she had her “change of life” – menopause – at the age of 49. Her husband died 40 years ago and her youngest child is now 51. It is assumed that Sau has been carrying this “pregnancy” for at least 27 years, and perhaps more than 40.

Dr. Le Quang Vinh, Deputy Director of Cam Ranh Hospital, says the fetus in Sau’s abdomen had been dead for a long time and ultimately became calcified. The lithopedion produced side-effects, causing intense pain in the lower abdomen. Surgery will be required to remove it.

Doctors of the Cam Ranh Hospital held a consultation with colleagues from Khanh Hoa Province Hospital on March 31 to determine the best treatment for the patient. At present, doctors are not sure whether the fetus is inside or outside the womb. A second consultation will be held this week.

Sau also suffers from many other maladies such as spinal and abdominal pain. Doctors are considering whether or not these diseases are related to the stone baby.

"The stone baby is not dangerous to the patient’s life. Therefore, we will consult with leading experts of Tu Du Hospital and the Central Obstetrics Hospital to decide the treatment methodology," says Dr. Nguyen Hong Quang, Director of Cam Ranh Hospital.

According to doctors, this is the first stone baby ever recorded in Vietnam.