Trichobezoar: A rare cause of bowel obstruction

World J Gastrointest Surg. 2011 Apr 27;3(4):54-5. doi: 10.4240/wjgs.v3.i4.54.

Abstract

A bezoar is an intraluminal mass formed by the accumulation of undigested material in the gastrointestinal tract. A trichobezoar is a bezoar made up of hair and is a rare cause of bowel obstruction of the proximal gastrointestinal tract. They are seen mostly in young women with trichotillomania and trichotillophagia and symptoms include epigastric pain, nausea, loss of appetite and bowel or gastric outlet obstruction. We herein describe a case of a trichobezoar that presented as a gastric outlet obstruction and was subsequently successfully removed via a laparotomy.

Keywords: Bezoar; Obstruction; Trichobezoar; Trichotillomania.