An unusual reason of abdominal pain: A case of Rapunzel's syndrome and literature review

Sevgi Buyukbese Sarsu,Ali Karapur

doi:10.17546/msd.32281

Abstract

Bezoar is defined as a mass formed as a consequence of the accumulation of indigestible foreign substances within the gastric outlet or small bowels with resultant dysfunctional gastric emptying Gastric bezoar extending into the small or large bowel and causing a clinical condition called Rapunzel syndrome This rare pediatric condition is observed in young girls with psychiatric problems such as trichotilomania, who frequently feel an irresistable desire to pluck out, and swallow their hairs. A 12-year-old girl was admitted to our hospital with complaints of abdominal pain, growth retardation, and partial hair loss. Endoscopic examination revealed the presence of gastroduodenale trichobezoar, and her giant trichobezoar was extracted using conventional laparotomy, and anterior gastrostomy. With this case representation we reported a case with Rapunzel Syndrome in the light of literature data.

Highlights

Bezoars are defined as masses formed by indigestible materials which aggregate, solidify in the stomach and bowels of humans after the oral intake
Bezoar is defined as a mass formed as a consequence of the accumulation of indigestible foreign substances within the gastric outlet or small bowels with resultant dysfunctional gastric emptying Gastric bezoar extending into the small or large bowel and causing a clinical condition called Rapunzel syndrome This rare pediatric condition is observed in young girls with psychiatric problems such as trichotilomania, who frequently feel an irresistable desire to pluck out, and swallow their hairs
With this case representation we reported a case with Rapunzel Syndrome in the light of literature data

Summary

Introduction

Bezoars are defined as masses formed by indigestible materials which aggregate, solidify in the stomach and bowels of humans after the oral intake. A 12-year-old girl was admitted to our hospital with complaints of abdominal pain, growth retardation, and partial hair loss. Continuous intake of plastic material (plastobezoar), antacid-like drugs (pharmobezoar), vegetable, and fruit -based materials (phytobezoar), milk and milk products (lactobezoar) and plucked hairs (trichobezoar) cause development of various kinds of bezoars indicated in the brackets.

Results

Conclusion