Small Intestine Bezoar: Computed Tomography Appearance

The aim of this study was to determine the computed tomography (CT) appearance of small intestine bezoar (SIB). Eight cases of proven SIB were included in this study. Four of these patients had undergone previous abdominal surgeries, including one patient who had undergone gastric surgery, and one patient who had jejunal diverticular disease. Six patients had bezoars in the ileum and two patients had bezoars in the jejunum. From the CT scans, small bowel obstruction (SBO) was noted in all eight patients. The most common and characteristic CT finding of SIB was a well-circumscribed inhomogenous intraluminal mass with a mottled gas pattern at the site of obstruction. This finding was noted in seven patients. The other patient had a dense compact calcified stone in the small intestine. With the increased use of CT in the evaluation of patients with SBO, it is important to recognize the CT appearance of SIB, as this diagnosis is often not suggested clinically. Identification of a well-circumscribed inhomogenous intraluminal mass with a mottled gas pattern at the site of obstruction is diagnostic of small intestine bezoar.