Phytobezoars and trichobezoars: a 10-year experience.
BACKGROUND
Bezoars are retained concretions of animal or vegetable material in the gastrointestinal tract. Most bezoars reside in the stomach, but they may be encountered elsewhere. Previous gastric surgery, which has resulted in impaired gastric emptying and/or decreased acid production, is usually the cause of bezoars. Phytobezoars are more common, while trichobezoars are rare. Endoscopy and gastrografin swallow may aid in diagnosis. The treatment of bezoars can be either conservative or surgical.


METHODS
After searching the computerized medical database, all files of hospitalized patients in the years 1992 to 2002 with the diagnoses "bezoars," "phytobezoars," and "tricobezoars" were evaluated.


RESULTS
Eighteen patients had bezoars: 16 had phytobezoars and 2 patients were diagnosed as having trichobezoars. Eleven of the patients had previous gastric operation. All patients but one were treated surgically. Two unusual cases of trichobezoar are presented here.


CONCLUSIONS
Thorough understanding of bezoars can allow the clinician to be especially alert when dealing with those patients most likely to develop them, and thus diagnose the condition at an early stage.
Zamir
Doron
D
Department of Internal Medicine D, Barzilai Medical Center, Ashkelon, Israel. zamir@barzi.health.gov.il
Goldblum
Carl
C
Linova
Lina
L
Polychuck
Ilia
I
Reitblat
Tatiana
T
Yoffe
Boris
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001630:Bezoars / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D005773:Gastroscopy; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D013270:Stomach / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D013272:Stomach Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy