Radiographic findings in a patient with severe stomach distension due to huge gastric bezoar

Abstract

Bezoars are retained concretions of animal or vegetable material in the intestinal tract. Pathologic conditions that impair gastric emptying or acid secretion may lead to bezoar formation. The diagnosis of this clinical entity is based on physical examination, imaging evaluation, and endoscopic procedures. We present a rare case of gastric phytobezoar that was causing acute respiratory distress due to severe stomach distension. During the radiological evaluation, a supine abdominal X-ray revealed a severely distended stomach, while a plain chest radiograph demonstrated thoracic cavity compression due to stomach distension. Abdominal CT and upper gastrointestinal endoscopy demonstrated a huge gastric phytobezoar. Enzymatic dissolution, endoscopic procedures, conventional and videolaparoscopic surgery are ways that phytobezoar can be treated by. In our case we used gastric lavage with satisfactory results.