Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsCausesSymptomsWhen to See a ProviderDissolving BezoarsEndoscopyRisks and Complications
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Causes
Symptoms
When to See a Provider
Dissolving Bezoars
Endoscopy
Risks and Complications
Bezoarsare tightly packed masses of food or other material that are found in the gastrointestinal tract, especially the stomach. They can be asymptomatic (causing no symptoms) or cause gastrointestinal symptoms like abdominal pain and bloating. Treatment of bezoars involves dissolving or removing the bezoar through various techniques.
MementoJpeg / Getty Images
Who Gets Bezoars?
Bezoars are a rare gastrointestinal condition that can occur in anyone. While they are sometimes called bezoar stones, their composition varies. They are made of partially digested or undigested material that can include food or nonfood items, such as hair.
People who are more likely to develop a bezoar are:
Formation and Composition
Types of bezoars, how they form, and their composition include:
A Note on Gender and Sex TerminologyVerywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To accurately reflect our sources, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.
A Note on Gender and Sex Terminology
Verywell Health acknowledges thatsex and genderare related concepts, but they are not the same. To accurately reflect our sources, this article uses terms like “female,” “male,” “woman,” and “man” as the sources use them.
Associated GI Symptoms
Bezoars are typically asymptomatic. People who have them do not experience any signs or symptoms. However, symptoms can exist and may include:
Even if you have mild symptoms of a bezoar, a healthcare provider should be consulted to evaluate your condition and make a diagnosis. A provider may recommend ways to dissolve the bezoar. If it cannot be dissolved, anendoscopic procedureor surgery may be needed to remove the lodged material.
Dissolving Bezoars at Home
People with mild bezoar symptoms may be able to treat it at home after consulting a healthcare provider. A healthcare provider may recommend drinking a carbonated cola beverage or taking cellulase (a digestive enzyme) to help break up and dissolve the bezoar.
Another option is the prescription medication Reglan (metoclopramide), which helps stimulate the stomach and intestines to promote gut movement.
Bezoar Endoscopic Removal
When a bezoar is large, is causing significant symptoms, or is unable to be dissolved, a healthcare provider might suggest using endoscopy to remove it. In endoscopy, a thin device called an endoscope, with a camera and tools attached, is inserted in the mouth, down through the esophagus (food tube), and into the stomach.
Endoscopicremoval of a bezoar aims to remove the bezoar or break it up so it can pass through the digestive tract. The provider may use various tools to remove or break up the bezoar.
If a bezoar cannot be removed with endoscopy, surgical removal may be necessary.
Likelihood and Risks of Untreated Symptoms
Bezoars can cause serious complications, although they are rare. The complications can include:
The likelihood of developing a bezoar is rare. A study of almost 24,000 people who had endoscopy found bezoars in 0.31% of people. Bezoars made of food material are more common in areas where persimmons grow.
Summary
Bezoars are a gastrointestinal health concern. They are made up of tightly packed food or nonfood material and are usually found inside the stomach. Many times bezoars do not cause symptoms and can go unnoticed. However, when they do cause symptoms a healthcare provider will treat it with oral solutions to dissolve the bezoar or an endoscopic procedure to break it up or remove it.
3 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Liu L na, Wang L, Jia S Juan, Wang P.Clinical features, risk factors, and endoscopic treatment of bezoars: a retrospective analysis from a single center in northern China.Med Sci Monit. 2020;26. doi:10.12659/MSM.926539Merck Manual.Bezoars.Gökbulut V, Kaplan M, Kaçar S, Akdoğan Kayhan M, Coşkun O, Kayaçetin E.Bezoar in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: a single center experience.Turk J Gastroenterol. 2020;31(2):85-90. doi:10.5152/tjg.2020.18890
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Liu L na, Wang L, Jia S Juan, Wang P.Clinical features, risk factors, and endoscopic treatment of bezoars: a retrospective analysis from a single center in northern China.Med Sci Monit. 2020;26. doi:10.12659/MSM.926539Merck Manual.Bezoars.Gökbulut V, Kaplan M, Kaçar S, Akdoğan Kayhan M, Coşkun O, Kayaçetin E.Bezoar in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: a single center experience.Turk J Gastroenterol. 2020;31(2):85-90. doi:10.5152/tjg.2020.18890
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Liu L na, Wang L, Jia S Juan, Wang P.Clinical features, risk factors, and endoscopic treatment of bezoars: a retrospective analysis from a single center in northern China.Med Sci Monit. 2020;26. doi:10.12659/MSM.926539Merck Manual.Bezoars.Gökbulut V, Kaplan M, Kaçar S, Akdoğan Kayhan M, Coşkun O, Kayaçetin E.Bezoar in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: a single center experience.Turk J Gastroenterol. 2020;31(2):85-90. doi:10.5152/tjg.2020.18890
Liu L na, Wang L, Jia S Juan, Wang P.Clinical features, risk factors, and endoscopic treatment of bezoars: a retrospective analysis from a single center in northern China.Med Sci Monit. 2020;26. doi:10.12659/MSM.926539
Merck Manual.Bezoars.
Gökbulut V, Kaplan M, Kaçar S, Akdoğan Kayhan M, Coşkun O, Kayaçetin E.Bezoar in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: a single center experience.Turk J Gastroenterol. 2020;31(2):85-90. doi:10.5152/tjg.2020.18890
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
