Bezoar types in children and aetiological factors affecting bezoar formation: A single-centre retrospective study

Bezoar is formed as a result of the accumulation of undigested food or foreign substances in the gastrointestinal tract (GIS). The present study aims to investigate the bezoar types seen in children and the aetiological factors involved in bezoar formation.

A total of 16 patients who underwent an endoscopy and/or surgical treatment for bezoar at Harran University, Faculty of Medicine Pediatric Surgery Clinic between 2011 and 2019 were included in the study. The demographic information, laboratory and radiological findings were obtained from the patients' file records.

A total of ten patients (62.5%) were female with a mean age of 7.8 ± 4.9 years. Phytobezoars were detected in ten patients, trichobezoars in two patients, lactobezoar in one patient, and other types in three patients. The aetiological factors were determined to be congenital GIS anomaly in 6 (37.5%) patients; trichotillomania in 2 (12.5%) patients; mental retardation in 2 (12.5%) patients; ingestion of a foreign body during infancy in 2 (12.5%) patients; high intake of high-fibre fruit in 3 (18.5%) patients; and postoperative dysmotility in 2 (12.5%) patients.

Congenital GIS anomalies are mostly responsible for bezoar etiology in children and phytobezoar is the most common type of bezoar.