Milk curd syndrome is an infrequent, iatrogenic cause of bowel obstruction in neonates and early infants, which arises mainly due to inspissation of formula feeds or dried cow's milk, but is very uncommon after feeding with unmodified animal milk, such as goat's milk. A systematic review aims to gain a deeper understanding of its demographics, causes, clinical profile, diagnosis, and management. If treated promptly, outcomes are favourable.
FlikweertERLa HeiERDe RijkeYB, et al.Return of the milk curd syndrome. Pediatr Surg Int2003; 19: 628–631.
6.
WolfRSBruceJ. Gastrotomy for lactobezoar in a newborn infant. J Pediatr1959; 54: 811–812.
7.
WolfRSDavisLA. Lactobezoar: a foreign body formed by the use of undiluted powdered milk substance. JAMA1963; 184: 782.
8.
CookRCRickhamPP. Neonatal intestinal obstruction due to milk curds. J Pediatr Surg1969; 4: 599–605.
9.
MajdMLoprestiJM. Lactobezoar. Am J Roentgenol1972; 116: 575–576.
10.
WexlerHAPooleCA. Lactobezoar, a complication of overconcentrated milk formula. J Pediatr Surg1976; 11: 261–262.
11.
GraivierLHarperNECurrarinoG. Milk-curd bowel obstruction in the newborn infant. JAMA1977; 238: 1050–1052.
12.
SippellWGKalbCFendelH. Lactobezoar in an infant: an unusual cause of upper abdominal tumour persisting for several weeks. Case report and review of the literature. Eur J Pediatr1977; 126: 97–102.
13.
ToliaVDuboisRS. Lactobezoar in prematurity. A case with prolonged resolution. Clin Pediatr (Phila)1981; 20: 651–653.
14.
SznajderMBenichouJJLabruneB. Lactobezoar in an infant. Arch Fr Pediatr1985; 42: 699–700.
15.
NaikDRBoliaABoonAW. Demonstration of a lactobezoar by ultrasound. Br J Radiol1987; 60: 506–508.
16.
SingerJI. Lactobezoar causing an abdominal triad of colicky pain, emesis, and mass. Pediatr Emerg Care1988; 4: 194–196.
DuBoseVTM,SouthgateWMHillJG. Lactobezoars: a patient series and literature review. Clin Pediatr (Phila)2001; 40: 603–606.
19.
ToweryHHChanRK. Lactobezoar: a case report. Clin Pediatr (Phila)2004; 43: 577–578.
20.
JainAGodambeSVClarkeS, et al.Unusually late presentation of lactobezoar leading to necrotising enterocolitis in an extremely low birthweight infant. BMJ Case Rep2009; 2009: bcr03.2009.1708.
21.
BajorekSBasalduaRMcGooganK, et al.Neonatal gastric lactobezoar: management with N-acetylcysteine. Case Rep Pediatr2012; 2012: 412412.
22.
BosMEWijnenRMHde BlaauwI. Gastric pneumatosis and rupture caused by lactobezoar. Pediatr Int2013; 55: 757–760.
23.
CastroLBerenguerAPilarC, et al.Recurrent gastric lactobezoar in an infant. Oxf Med Case Reports2014; 4: 80–82.
24.
SparksBKesavanA. Treatment of a gastric lactobezoar with N-acetylcysteine. Case Rep Gastrointest Med2014; 2014: 254741.
25.
KashishKVikramKAnjanD, et al.Milk curd syndrome: a forgotten entity. Adv Res Gastroentero Hepatol2017; 4: 555635.
26.
FléchellesODaudens-VaysseEFrançois-CoridonH, et al.Cluster of gastric lactobezoar in one NICU: 7 cases in 37 days, consequence of aggressive enteral nutrition. Ann Clin Case Rep2019; 4: 1767.
27.
LongardtACLouiABührerC, et al.Milk curd obstruction in human milk-fed preterm infants. Neonatology2019; 115: 211–216.
28.
MaistryNWagenerS. Milk curd obstruction: an increasingly common rarity?J Clin Neonatol2019; 8: 212.
29.
ZeidanSAkkaryRJawadN, et al.Lactobezoar causing neonatal gastric perforation. J Ped Surg Case Rep2019; 44: 101192.
30.
RahmanSGhribiAAlabdulghaniMH, et al.Perforated bowel after obstruction in a neonate with milk curd syndrome following ready to feed infant formula. Dr Sulaiman Al Habib Med J2019; 1: 81–82.
31.
ElkhouliMAlealiFAlzamrooniA, et al.Ileal lactobezoar in extreme premature infant complicated by intestinal perforation: a case report. Int J Surg Case Rep2022; 96: 107303.
32.
GuptaR. Milk curd syndrome with goat’s milk: revisited. Saudi Journal for Health Sciences2022; 11: 218.
33.
Ramírez DíazRIbarra RodríguezIGavilanes SalazarGM, et al.Fortified milk: a rare cause of intestinal obstruction in pre-term patients. Cir Pediatr2024; 37: 137–140.
34.
GosaiDVaishnavJMishraP. Gastric lactobezoar: a rare cause of intestinal obstruction in neonates. J Indian Assoc Pediatr Surg2025; 30: 401–402.
