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Bezoar: an unusual palpable mass in the right iliac fossa
A Armstrong1, J Coulston2, P Mackey2
1Department of Colorectal Surgery, Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, Somerset TA1 5DA UK ; 44a Fore St., Topsham, Exeter, Devon EX3 0HY UK.
Abstract:
A 64-year-old gentleman presented with a 12-h history of right iliac fossa pain. On examination, the patient had a tender 8 × 6 cm mass in the right iliac fossa with localised peritonitis. The working diagnosis at this time was an appendix mass or caecal cancer. A computed tomography scan revealed the characteristic 'bird's nest' appearance of a bezoar. On further questioning, the patient confessed to regularly 'binging' on grapes. The patient described passing the mass and his symptoms completely resolved. This appears to be the only documented case of a bezoar affecting the ascending colon.
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