When an endoscopy may be necessary
For certain stomach conditions, doctors may recommend an upper gastrointestinal endoscopy.
During this procedure, a specialist passes a thin, flexible instrument with a camera through the mouth and into the upper digestive tract.
The procedure allows doctors to examine the lining of the esophagus, stomach, and first part of the small intestine.
It can help identify inflammation, ulcers, bleeding, foreign material, or unusual masses.
In some cases, instruments passed through the endoscope can also retrieve or break apart material.
For a suspected bezoar, endoscopy may provide direct confirmation of what the mass contains.
But endoscopy does not always offer an effective method of removal.
A large, densely packed trichobezoar may be difficult to fragment or extract safely through the endoscope.
If the material is too large or extends into the intestine, surgical treatment may be necessary.
The Merck Manual notes that management depends on the bezoar’s composition, size, symptoms, and associated complications.
