Review of the diagnosis and management of gastrointestinalbezoars

The formation of a bezoar is a relatively infrequentdisorder that affects the gastrointestinal system.Bezoars are mainly classified into four types dependingon the material constituting the indigestible mass of thebezoar phytobezoars, trichobezoars, pharmacobezoars,and lactobezoars. Gastric bezoars often cause ulcerativelesions in the stomach and subsequent bleeding,whereas small intestinal bezoars present with smallbowel obstruction and ileus. A number of articles haveemphasized the usefulness of Coca-Cola？ administrationfor the dissolution of phytobezoars. However, persimmonphytobezoars may be resistant to such dissolutiontreatment because of their harder consistency comparedto other types of phytobezoars. Better understanding ofthe etiology and epidemiology of each type of bezoarwill facilitate prompt diagnosis and management.Here we provide an overview of the prevalence, classification,predisposing factors, and manifestations ofbezoars. Diagnosis and management strategies arealso discussed, reviewing mainly our own case series.Recent progress in basic research regarding persimmonphytobezoars is also briefly reviewed.