A 62-year old para 4 with a history of a radical hysterectomy followed by radiotherapy for endometrial carcinoma was seen shortly after insertion of a pessary for a total vault prolapse. On follow-up the pessary couldn't be retrieved. An abdominal X-ray revealed the pessary in the abdominal cavity and it had to be removed by means of a laparotomy. Fistula and defects have been reported both in longstanding pessary use and as long-term complication in radical surgery with radiotherapy. In view of potential - though rare - serious complications, adequate follow-up in pessary use is therefore mandatory. Adequate diagnostic investigations are essential in deciding on an appropriate approach for rare cases like these.