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Faecaloma

Dr Yuranga Weerakkody and Dr David Puebla et al.

A faecaloma is a mass of faeces most frequently noted in the rectum and sigmoid, that is much harder than a faecal impactation due to coprostasis. Usually, the faecal matter accumulates in the intestine, then stagnates and increases in volume until the intestine becomes deformed and acquires characteristics similar to those of a tumour.

There are several causes of faecaloma and have been described in association with

Hirschsprung's disease
psychiatric patients
Chagas disease
both inflammatory and neoplastic conditons
patients suffering with chronic constipation.

Complications

stercoral perforation

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References

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1. Rajagopal A, Martin J. Giant fecaloma with idiopathic sigmoid megacolon: report of a case and review of the literature. Dis. Colon Rectum. 2002;45 (6): 833-5. - Pubmed citation
2. Garisto JD, Campillo L, Edwards E et-al. Giant fecaloma in a 12-year-old-boy: a case report. Cases J. 2009;2 (1): 127. doi:10.1186/1757-1626-2-127 - Free text at pubmed - Pubmed citation
3. Altomare DF, Rinaldi M, Sallustio PL et-al. Giant fecaloma in an adult with severe anal stricture caused by anal imperforation treated by proctocolectomy and ileostomy: report of a case. Dis. Colon Rectum. 2009;52 (3): 534-7. doi:10.1007/DCR.0b013e318199db36 - Pubmed citation
4. Yucel AF, Akdogan RA, Gucer H. A giant abdominal mass: fecaloma. Clin. Gastroenterol. Hepatol. 2012;10 (2): e9-e10. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2011.06.030 - Pubmed citation
5. Fagelman D, Warhit JM, Reiter JD et-al. CT diagnosis of fecaloma. J Comput Assist Tomogr. 1984;8 (3): 559-61. - Pubmed citation
6. Kumar P, Pearce O, Higginson A. Imaging manifestations of faecal impaction and stercoral perforation. Clin Radiol. 2011;66 (1): 83-8. doi:10.1016/j.crad.2010.08.002 - Pubmed citation