Lithobezoar: A Case Report and Literature Review of an Infrequent Cause of Abdominal Pain

Abstract

A bezoar is the accumulation of indigestible substances in the gastrointestinal system. Presently described is the case of a 47-year-old male patient who was admitted to the clinic with nausea, vomiting, pain, and abdominal distension. He had a medical history of obsessive-compulsive disorder. He had begun eating soil in the previous 3 to 4 months. Gastroscopy revealed a large, solid, claylike mass in the stomach. Surgery was successfully performed to remove the collected soil, but unfortunately, the patient died due to an acute myocardial infarction on the postoperative fourth day. Physicians should keep bezoars in mind in cases of unexplained abdominal symptoms, especially in females and patients with psychiatric disorders. Psychiatric disorders are often ignored by surgeons during examinations, which can lead to serious and life-threatening complications.