MECHANICAL LARGE BOWEL OBSTRUCTION DUE TO AN APRICOT SEED: A RARE CAUSE OF INTESTINAL OBSTRUCTION. CASE REPORT

Phytobezoar which is a condition that appears everywhere in the world is a very rare cause of the large bowel obstruction. In this case report, a patient with mechanical large bowel obstruction due to anapricot seed is presented. A 35 year-old man admitted to our hospital, suffering from stomach pain, constipation and distension for 15 days. Upon radiological examination no mass was detected. At endoscopic examination, narrowing of the lumen was observed at the ascending colon level and abiopsy was performed. The result of the biopsy showed fibrosis in the wall. At laparatomic examination, a mass was found in the ascending colon and a right hemicolectomi and ileotransversotomy was performed. On macroscopic examination we found an apricot seed causing the thickening of the wall and a superficial ulcer in the mucosa. In cases of mechanical intestinal obstructions the existence of a radiolucent foreign material (bezoars) must be keep in mind, especially in children, debile patients and patients that have had gastrointestinal system surgery.