Association of diabetes mellitus with gastric bezoar formation

The association of diabetes mellitus with gastric bezoars is not well documented. Our endoscopic experience over a seven-year period (1979 to 1985) included 3247 esophagoduodenoscopies (EGDs). Bezoars were found in 14 patients (0.4%). The mean age of these 14 patients was 63 years (range, 27 to 84 years); there were eight men and six women. In 11 patients, there was a history and/or findings of peptic ulcer disease (PUD). Two patients had prior surgery (Billroth II in one and vagotomy in another). Seven patients had diabetes mellitus; five had diabetes for over five years, and three of these five had diabetes for over ten years. Diabetes was newly diagnosed in one patient. Except for the newly diagnosed patient, the other diabetic patients had evidence of autonomic neuropathy. Two other patients (not included with the diabetic patients) had hyperglycemia only during stress. The three patients with bezoars but without PUD all had diabetes for many years (9, 17, and 19 years). In two control groups of 14 patients each who also underwent endoscopy, only one diabetic patient was discovered. We conclude that diabetes mellitus and associated gastropathy are major risk factors for bezoar formation, especially in the absence of PUD.