Rapunzel Syndrome: A Rare Case of Phyto-Trichobezoar in an Indian Girl

Cureus. 2023 Sep 7;15(9):e44824. doi: 10.7759/cureus.44824. eCollection 2023 Sep.

Abstract

Phyto-trichobezoar is a rare disorder characterized by the formation of mass in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) by the ingested inedible material, mostly hair and thread. The ingestion of hair is a rare psychiatric disorder called trichotillomania, which is more common in girls. An 11-year-old girl presented with clinical features of GIT obstruction, which were diagnosed to be Rapunzel syndrome by computed tomography. The phyto-trichobezoar was removed en masse by the anterior gastrotomy, which extended beyond the duodenum. The girl, after recovery, was counseled and treated for subclinical depression.

Keywords: anterior gastrotomy; depression; gastrointestinal tract; phyto-trichobezoar; trichotillomania.

Publication types

  • Case Reports