Peritoneal loose body: an incidental finding, a challenging diagnosis and multimodal assessment to avoid resections.
Aniruddha Janardan Yadav, Imran Shaikh, Vishakha Priya Sinha et al.
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Case in brief
A man in his early 40s presented with urinary symptoms and was found to have a right ureteric calculus, hydronephrosis, and a urinary tract infection. A CT scan revealed an incidental pelvic mass, initially suspected to be a gastrointestinal stromal tumor. Multidisciplinary management included cystoscopy-guided stenting. During a subsequent procedure, a diagnostic laparoscopy revealed a large peritoneal loose body, which was successfully retrieved without the need for resection.
What made this case unusual
The incidental finding of a large peritoneal loose body, which is a rare and benign entity, was initially misdiagnosed as a malignancy, highlighting the potential for misinterpretation on imaging.
Diagnostic / clinical pearl
Clinicians should consider peritoneal loose bodies in the differential diagnosis of incidental pelvic masses to avoid unnecessary major surgeries.
Why it matters
This case underscores the importance of accurate preoperative assessment and the role of diagnostic laparoscopy in preventing misdiagnosis and unnecessary interventions.