Twenty one patients with intestinal obstructions due to phytobezoars were seen at the department of surgery, Taejeon St. Mary´s hospital, Catholic Medical College, from 1978 through 1983, and retrospectively evaluated.
The results were as follows:
1) Bezoars in small intestines were phytobezoars, mainly diospyrobezoars, which were caused by ingestion of wild or primitive persimmons.
2) The peak incidences were the age below 20 years, and seventh to eighth decades.
3) The male to female ratio was 2.5 : 1.
4) 18 out of 21 cases underwent the external distruption and manual passage downward the cecum or ascending colon with good results.
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