Rapunzel syndrome is an unusual and rare form of gastric trichobezoar that extends into the small intestine. The formation is due to the continuous ingestion of hair which leads to the impaction of the hair along with mucus and food, but it is rare that gastric perforation occurs. We report the case of a female patient of 16 years of age admitted to our institution with a history of depression and clinical symptoms characterized by nausea, severe epigastralgia and pathological loss of weight. The physical examination showed a tense abdomen with a peritoneal reaction. Contrast-enhanced tomography showed a distended stomach with a heterogeneous content that extended to the duodenum, hydro pneumoperitoneum, Douglas sack bottom liquid, and it was decided to perform an exploratory laparotomy. Showed perforation in the anterior face of the stomach which is infrequent, so we proceeded to the extraction of giant trichobezoar with duodenal extension; Evolving favorably, the patient being referred to outpatient controls with psychiatry; Finally, a high endoscopy was performed at 6 months, which evidenced the scar of the surgical procedure.
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Cureus
November 2024
Department of General and Operative Surgery, Medical University "Prof. Dr. Paraskev Stoyanov", Varna, BGR.
Trichobezoar or hairball in the proximal part of the gastrointestinal tract is a rare condition that occurs mainly in young and adolescent females. Since human hair is resistant to digestive enzymes and resistant to peristalsis, it easily accumulates between the folds of the mucosa. Over time, food and mucus accumulate within the hair, forming a compact mass that fills almost the entire lumen.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Surg Case Rep
December 2024
Department of Pathology, Health Plus Diagnostics, Gorakhpur, India.
Introduction And Importance: Rapunzel syndrome is a rare condition that results from trichotillomania (compulsive hair pulling) and trichophagia (hair eating), causing a trichobezoar (hairball) to form This syndrome typically affects young females with psychiatric conditions and presents with symptoms like chronic abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and malnutrition. The condition is often diagnosed late, leading to serious gastrointestinal complications.
Case Presentation: A 19-year-old female from a rural community presented with chronic abdominal pain, vomiting, and nutritional deficiencies, including scaly skin and koilonychia.
Int J Surg Case Rep
December 2024
King Edward Medical University, Lahore 54000, Punjab, Pakistan.
Introduction And Importance: Trichobezor is a mass of accumulated ingested hair in the gastric lumen. Rapunzel syndrome is an extension of these bezoars beyond the pylorus. The formation of trichobezoar is invariably linked to trichotillomania and trichophagia.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCase Rep Surg
December 2024
Department of Medicine, Aleppo University Hospital, Aleppo, Syria.
Trichobezoars are accumulations of undigested hair. Usually, this disorder follows a psychiatric etiology; however, sometimes a nonpsychiatric etiology, such as pica, can also be suspected. Rapunzel syndrome is a rare type of trichobezoar in which the hair is usually confined to the stomach and small intestine.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFJ Clin Med
December 2024
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Institute of Legal Medicine, University "Magna Graecia" of Catanzaro, Viale Europa, Loc. Germaneto, 88100 Catanzaro, Italy.
Rapunzel syndrome is a rare and severe form of trichobezoar, characterized by the presence of hair masses in the stomach that often extend into the bowel, resembling the legendary "Rapunzel's" long hair. : This review examines the clinical, diagnostic, forensic, and post-mortem aspects associated with Rapunzel syndrome, with a focus on cases resulting in mortality or those at high risk of death due to complications. In particular, the review systematically analyzes the existing literature on fatal cases of Rapunzel syndrome, emphasizing insights into risk factors, clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods, autopsy findings, and preventive measures to provide a focused understanding of these critical aspects.
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