A ball of indigestible material in the stomach. Bezoars can be composed of hair, fiber, or other indigestible material. Although they are most common in children, bezoars can also occur in adults following partial gastrectomy (surgical removal of part of the stomach). People with diabetes are also more likely to develop bezoars. Trichobezoars are bezoars made of hair only; they develop in children who chew on their hair or pull it out and swallow it. This type of bezoar may also occur in emotionally disturbed adults who eat their hair. A bezoar may produce loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Treatment usually requires breaking up the bezoar, using a gastroscope. If this is not successful, surgical removal is required. Thereafter, medications can sometimes prevent their recurrence.
A mass of swallowed foreign material within the stomach. The material, which is usually swallowed by psychiatrically disturbed patients but can also occur in atonic and postoperative stomachs, accumulates and ultimately causes gastric obstruction. Its removal often requires a surgical operation.
A mass of ingested foreign material found in the stomach, usually in children or people with psychiatric illnesses. It may cause gastric obstruction and require surgical removal. The commonest type consists of hair and is known as a trichobezoar.
A hard mass of entangled material sometimes found in the stomachs and intestines of animals and humans, such as a hairball (trichobezoar), a hair and vegetable fiberball (trichophytobezoar), or a vegetable foodball (phytobezoar).
Encounter a mass comprised of undigested food, mucus, vegetable fiber, hair, or other substances that cannot be digested within the stomach. These formations, known as bezoars, can vary in composition depending on the material involved. Specifically, trichobezoars consist of hair and may develop in the stomachs of children or emotionally disturbed adults who engage in habits such as nibbling at their hair, pulling it out, and subsequently swallowing it. The formation of bezoars, including trichobezoars, highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing underlying psychological factors and behavioral patterns that contribute to their development. Medical intervention may be required to remove or manage these bezoars, ensuring optimal digestive function and overall well-being.
Common symptoms associated with the presence of trichobezoars include loss of appetite, constipation, nausea and vomiting, and abdominal pain. It is worth noting that if trichobezoars migrate into the intestines, they have the potential to cause blockages or obstructions. To address this condition, medical interventions such as endoscopy, a minimally invasive procedure involving the insertion of a flexible viewing tube through the digestive tract, or conventional surgery may be employed to remove the bezoars. These interventions aim to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications, and restore normal gastrointestinal function. Timely diagnosis and appropriate management of trichobezoars are essential to ensure the well-being and digestive health of affected individuals.
Any solid mass developed within the gastrointestinal tract.