'Rapunzel syndrome' trichobezoar in a 7-year-old girl: a case report

Abstract

Background: Rapunzel syndrome is a rare type of trichobezoar with an extension of the hair into the small bowel. Clinical presentation is deceptive and vague ranging from abdominal mass to gastrointestinal symptoms.

Case presentation: We present a 7 years old girl with Rapunzel syndrome, where the trichobezoar was not suspected at all especially with negative history of trichophagia. In majority of the cases the diagnosis was made very late in the history of the disease, at a stage where surgery is the only cure for this syndrome.

Conclusion: In the paediatric age group with a long history of gastrointestinal symptom, endoscopy is a diagnostic as well as a therapeutic modality and may reduce surgery in trichobezoars.

Figure 1

Trichobezoar extracted from the stomach following gastrotomy.

Figure 2

The extension of the hair into the small bowel through entrotomy.

Figure 3

The whole hair extracted with its tail which was extracted from the small bowel.