Gastric Bezoar Composed of Intertwined Mobile Phone Charging Cables in a Young Adult With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Pica: A Case Report
- 1Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Hospital Regional Valentín Gómez Farías, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE), Zapopan, MEX
- 2Surgery, Hospital General Presidente Lazaro Cardenas del Rio, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE), Chihuahua, MEX
- 3General Surgery, Hospital Regional Valentín Gómez Farías, Instituto de Seguridad y Servicios Sociales de los Trabajadores del Estado (ISSSTE), Zapopan, MEX
Abstract
Bezoars composed of nonfood foreign material are uncommon and may pose substantial diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, particularly in patients with pica and neurodevelopmental disorders. We report a 22-year-old man with autism spectrum disorder and a remote history of laparotomy for ingestion of batteries and magnets who presented for recurrence of absence seizures. A radiopaque intragastric foreign-body conglomerate was identified incidentally on radiography. Plain abdominal imaging demonstrated numerous linear, serpiginous radiopaque structures conforming to the gastric contour without evidence of bowel obstruction or perforation. Upper endoscopy showed the gastric cavity to be almost completely occupied by a dense network of intertwined cables, with associated erythematous and erosive gastropathy. Endoscopic retrieval with a metallic snare was unsuccessful because of the volume and entanglement of the material. The patient subsequently underwent open supraumbilical laparotomy and anterior gastrotomy, allowing en bloc removal of a bezoar composed predominantly of mobile phone charging cables. The gastrotomy was closed in two layers, and a closed-suction drain was placed. Recovery was uncomplicated; oral intake was progressively advanced, the drain was removed at discharge, and follow-up at one and two weeks showed adequate wound healing and no gastrointestinal symptoms. Psychiatry established a diagnosis of pica and arranged outpatient follow-up. This case highlights the potential for clinically silent, prolonged accumulation of unusual foreign material in the stomach and the importance of integrating radiographic, endoscopic, surgical, and psychiatric management when endoscopic extraction is not feasible.
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BibTeX
@article{fuentes2026gastric,
title = {{Gastric Bezoar Composed of Intertwined Mobile Phone Charging Cables in a Young Adult With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Pica: A Case Report}},
author = {Sergio Miguel Suárez Fuentes and Mauro A Cardenas and Luis F Hernández González and José J Cervantes De Anda and Soledad Merced Castro Olmedo and Arym P Preza Estrada and Hansel F Ramos Ramírez and Nora Lis Flores-Olmos and Patricia G Arriaga Felipe},
journal = {Cureus},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.7759/cureus.117446},
url = {https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.117446},
note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Gastric Bezoar Composed of Intertwined Mobile Phone Charging Cables in a Young Adult With Autism Spectrum Disorder and Pica: A Case Report
AU - Sergio Miguel Suárez Fuentes
AU - Mauro A Cardenas
AU - Luis F Hernández González
AU - José J Cervantes De Anda
AU - Soledad Merced Castro Olmedo
AU - Arym P Preza Estrada
AU - Hansel F Ramos Ramírez
AU - Nora Lis Flores-Olmos
AU - Patricia G Arriaga Felipe
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/04
JO - Cureus
DO - 10.7759/cureus.117446
UR - https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.117446
AB - Bezoars composed of nonfood foreign material are uncommon and may pose substantial diagnostic and therapeutic challenges, particularly in patients with pica and neurodevelopmental disorders. We report a 22-year-old man with autism spectrum disorder and a remote history of laparotomy for ingestion of batteries and magnets who presented for recurrence of absence seizures. A radiopaque intragastric foreign-body conglomerate was identified incidentally on radiography. Plain abdominal imaging demonstrated numerous linear, serpiginous radiopaque structures conforming to the gastric contour without evidence of bowel obstruction or perforation. Upper endoscopy showed the gastric cavity to be almost completely occupied by a dense network of intertwined cables, with associated erythematous and erosive gastropathy. Endoscopic retrieval with a metallic snare was unsuccessful because of the volume and entanglement of the material. The patient subsequently underwent open supraumbilical laparotomy and anterior gastrotomy, allowing en bloc removal of a bezoar composed predominantly of mobile phone charging cables. The gastrotomy was closed in two layers, and a closed-suction drain was placed. Recovery was uncomplicated; oral intake was progressively advanced, the drain was removed at discharge, and follow-up at one and two weeks showed adequate wound healing and no gastrointestinal symptoms. Psychiatry established a diagnosis of pica and arranged outpatient follow-up. This case highlights the potential for clinically silent, prolonged accumulation of unusual foreign material in the stomach and the importance of integrating radiographic, endoscopic, surgical, and psychiatric management when endoscopic extraction is not feasible.
SN - 2168-8184
ER -