Bezoars--analysis of seven cases.

From 1979 to 1986 seven patients were studied in whom bezoars had been diagnosed. The history of five patients revealed that they had eaten a fruit called prunus lauricerasus, grown in the east Black Sea region. This is quite different from persimmons which are well-known as an aetiological agent of phytobezoars. Trichobezoars were present in one case, and phytobezoars in five cases. In one case, trichophytobezoar was removed surgically from the stomach. Our five cases were operated on to treat small bowel obstruction. Surgery was performed in all our cases and prunus lauricerasus should be kept in mind as an aetiological factor besides persimmons.