Gastrointestinal phytobezoars in Africans.

Fourteen gastrointestinal phytobezoars are presented. There have not been previous reports in Africans. Eleven were gastric and mimicked wither peptic ulceration or carcinoma of the stomach. The classical barium meal appearance of a mobile filing defect was present in the majority but a confident diagnois of carcinoma of the stomach was made in two cases in whom fiberoptic endoscopy established the correct diagnoisis. The bezoars were composed of vegatable material from either a tuber or rhizome. Three ileal bezoars presented with acute intestinal obstruction; two were probably the result of incompletely masticated maize porridge.