Ars Technica: Doctors Dissolve Woman's Stomach Mass With Diet Soda

Ars Technica reported on September 26, 2025, that doctors used an unconventional method to treat a woman hospitalized with severe pain and vomiting. After medical staff identified a mass in her stomach as the cause of her symptoms, they directed the patient to drink diet soda to dissolve it.

nih.gov reported, The treatment required the woman to "chug" the soda, which successfully broke down the gastric mass, identified as a phytobezoar, and resolved her condition. The use of cola for dissolving these masses, which are composed of indigestible fruit and vegetable fibers, has been successful in over 90% of cases, often in combination with other endoscopic methods. The source did not specify the amount of soda consumed or the duration of the treatment in this particular case. Further evaluation is needed to assess the efficacy of the treatment as a standalone therapy.