Rectal Bezoars
Rectal seed bezoars are an uncommon cause of fecal impaction, particularly in the United States. They are reportedly more common in the Middle East where they constitute the most common cause of fecal impaction requiring hospitalization, likely due to dietary habits that include seed consumption. There have been several reports of phytobezoars composed of various types of seeds (such as sunflower and prickly pear seeds); however, pumpkin seeds have rarely been implicated in bezoar formation. Mirza et al reported a case of a rectal bezoar due to pumpkin seeds in a Middle Eastern child; however, we are unaware of any such report in the adult population, particularly in the United States. (<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3355739/">Report</a>)<div><hr id="null" /><div>Bezoars are the uncommon result of ingestion of indigestible or poorly digestible substances. Historically, bezoars are classified according to the involved material and include phytobezoar (fruit and vegetable fibers), trichobezoar (hair), and lactobezoar (milk curds). Bezoars secondary to medications have also been described. The majority of bezoars are located in the stomach, with the small intestine being the next most commonly involved site. The colon is rarely the site for a bezoar. We report two children with colonic, sunflower seed bezoars that expands upon the presentation and treatment of this unusual occurrence. <a href="http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/content/99/6/896?download=true">Report</a><hr id="null" /></div></div>