CASE REPORT   

Chirurgia 2004 June;17(3):111-4

Copyright © 2004 EDIZIONI MINERVA MEDICA

language: Italian

A rare case of small bowel obstruction due to phytobezoar

Tomasello G., Ciulla A., Sanzo A. C., Romeo G., Maiorana A. M., Damiani S.

An interesting case of a 62-year-old woman with a large gastric phytobezoar is described. It was removed endoscopically, but the patient after 36 hours had a sudden onset of small-bowel obstruction. CT scan showed a transition zone with ovoid intraluminal mass (2.5x4 cm) outlined by the bowel wall. The mass consisted of a mixture of soft tissue and internal gas bubbles like feces, suggesting bezoar. The patient was operated and surgery confirmed small-bowel obstruction and the presence of phytobezoar.