Bezoar
Updates to Article Attributes
Bezoars are accumulations of undigestable contents with the gastrointestinal tract 2.
They are known to cause small bowel obstruction and sometimes CT may demonstrate the bezoar as a mass in the obstructed segment of bowel. The bezoar may be outlined by fluid in the proximally dilated small bowel, and the mass may be mottled owing to air trapped within it.
There can be several subtypes depending of the predominant contents:
- trichobezoar: is a bezoar formed from hair. This has also been called Rapunzel syndrome when the tail of the trichobezoar extends some distance through small bowel.
- phytobezoar: are composed of indigestible food material (e.g. cellulose) and are frequently reported in patients with impaired digestion and decreased gastric motility.
- pharmacobezoar: (or medication bezoars) are mostly undigested tablets or semi-liquid masses of drugs.
- lactobezoar: containing undigested milk curds
Associations
- previous gastric surgery 2
- psychiatric illness
History and etymology
Premodern medicine considered bezoars a special kind of stone with antidote properties. Until the 18th century a gold mounted bezoar was included in the crown jewels. Some ancient pharmacopeias list 'unicorn horns' as an acceptable alternative if a bezoar is not available. In the late 15th c., eastern porcupine bezoars were considered especially valuable 4.
Differential diagnosis
- in small bowel loops consider small bowel faeces sign (SBFS) 3
See also
-</ul><h4>History and etymology</h4><p>Premodern medicine considered bezoars a special kind of stone with antidote properties. Until the 18<sup>th</sup> century a gold mounted bezoar was included in the crown jewels. Some ancient pharmacopeias list 'unicorn horns' as an acceptable alternative if a bezoar is not available. In the late 15<sup>th</sup> c., eastern porcupine bezoars were considered especially valuable <sup>4</sup>.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><ul><li>in small bowel loops consider <a href="/articles/small-bowel-faeces-sign-1">small bowel faeces sign</a> (SBFS) <sup>3</sup>- +</ul><h4>History and etymology</h4><p>Premodern medicine considered bezoars a special kind of stone with antidote properties. Until the 18<sup>th</sup> century a gold mounted bezoar was included in the crown jewels. Some ancient pharmacopeias list 'unicorn horns' as an acceptable alternative if a bezoar is not available. In the late 15<sup>th</sup> c., eastern porcupine bezoars were considered especially valuable <sup>4</sup>.</p><h4>Differential diagnosis</h4><ul><li>in small bowel loops consider <a href="/articles/small-bowel-faeces-sign-bowel">small bowel faeces sign</a> (SBFS) <sup>3</sup>
-<li><a href="/articles/small-bowel-faeces-sign-1">small bowel faeces sign</a></li>- +<li><a href="/articles/small-bowel-faeces-sign-bowel">small bowel faeces sign</a></li>
Image 8 Fluoroscopy (Frontal with oral contrast) ( create )
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