Abstract

ARCE-VIQUEZ, Luis  and  ARCE-CAMPOS, William. Síndrome de Rapunzel. Acta méd. costarric [online]. 2007, vol.49, n.1, pp.59-61. ISSN 0001-6002.

We report herein the case of a 12 year- old girl who had a history of learning difficulties and trichophagia, hepatosplenomegaly and iron deficiency anemia, Surgical handling was required finding a huge trichobezoar extending into the duodenum. A trichobezoar extending towards the small intestine, is called Rapunzel syndrome. Its symptoms are not specific and in general its course is benign. Gastric bezoars can occur in the normal stomach due to the ingestion of objects that can not cross the pylorus. Most of the bezoars happen as complication of gastric surgery because of an altered pyloric function, hypoperistalsis and low concentrations of gastric acid. Tricobezoars usually present in young women due to voluntary and compulsive intake of hair (trichophagia) that often is the reflection of a personality disorder.

Keywords : Rapunzel syndrome; trichobezoar; trichophagia.

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