A Giant Egg-like symptomatic Loose Body in the Peritoneal Cavity A Case Report

Abstract

Background: Peritoneal loose bodies are rare lesions that areusually found as an incidental finding during abdominal surgery.Large loose bodies, measuring more than 5 cm, are rare and only afew cases are reported in the literature. Peritoneal loose bodies areusually infarcted appendices epiploicae, which become detachedand appear as a peritoneal loose body in the abdominal cavity.Case Presentation: We report here the first case, in the localEthiopian context, of a giant “egg-like” loose peritoneal bodymeasuring 7 × 6 cm found in a 50-year-old man who presentedwith a cramping abdominal pain and features of abdominalobstruction. The current hypothesis as regards these bodies and thediagnostic challenges is discussed.Conclusion: Small peritoneal loose bodies are common but giantand symptomatic ones’, like the one discussed here, are very rareand a diagnostic challenge. And, in the context of intestinalobstruction, a high index of suspicion is needed in order todiagnose them.