Obstruction in the third portion of the duodenum due to a diospyrobezoar: a case report

BACKGROUND Duodenal obstruction occurs mainly due to physical lesions such as duodenal ulcers or tumors. Obstruction due to bezoars is rare. We describe an extremely rare case of obstruction in the third portion of the duodenum caused by a diospyrobezoar 15 months after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer. CASE PRESENTATION A 73-year-old man who underwent laparoscopic distal gastrectomy for early gastric cancer 15 months before admission experienced abdominal distension and occasional vomiting. The symptoms worsened and ingestion became difficult; therefore, he was admitted to our department. Computed tomography (CT) performed on admission revealed a solid mass in the third portion of the duodenum and dilatation of the oral side of the duodenum and remnant stomach. Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) revealed a bezoar deep in the third portion of the duodenum. We could neither remove nor crush the bezoar. At midnight on the day of EGD, he experienced sudden abdominal pain. Repeat CT revealed that the bezoar had vanished from the duodenum and was observed in the ileum. Moreover, small bowel dilatation was observed on the oral side of the bezoar. Although CT showed neither free air nor ascites, laboratory data showed the increase of leukocyte (8400/μL) and C-reactive protein (18.1 mg/dL), and abdominal pain was severe. Emergency surgery was performed because conservative treatment was considered ineffective. We tried advancing the bezoar into the colon, but the ileum was too narrow; therefore, we incised the ileum and removed the bezoar. The bezoar was ocher, elastic, and hard, and its cross-section was uniform and orange. The postsurgical interview revealed that the patient loved eating Japanese persimmons (Diospyros kaki); therefore, he was diagnosed with a diospyrobezoar. His postoperative progress was good and without complications. He left the hospital 10 days after surgery. EGD performed 4 weeks after surgery revealed no abnormal duodenal findings. CONCLUSIONS We describe a rare case of obstruction in the third portion of the duodenum caused by a diospyrobezoar 15 months after laparoscopic distal gastrectomy with Billroth I reconstruction for early gastric cancer.