Giant gastric trichobezoar and Rapunzel syndrome in a 15-year-old girl
https://doi.org/10.24884/0042-4625-2025-184-3-90-94
Abstract
A trichobezoar is a cluster of hairs in the gastrointestinal tract that are stuck together with mucus. It can be formed by the patient’s or another person’s hair, or fibers of various objects. A giant trichobezoar with Rapunzel syndrome in childhood is a rare pathology. The article describes a rare clinical observation of a large gastric trichobezoar and Rapunzel syndrome in a 15-year-old girl. The possibilities of ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) and radiographic examination in diagnosing this pathology are presented. The giant trichobezoar was removed by open surgery. The effect of the operation is good. Due to the lack of early pathognomonic symptoms, early diagnosis of gastric trichobezoar is difficult. A number of instrumental research methods are used to diagnose the disease. The most reliable of them is contrast computed tomography. The only correct method of treating giant gastric trichobezoars is open surgical treatment.
About the Authors
R. Z. Tandilava
JSC «VIAN» M. Iashvili Maternal and Child Central Hospital
Georgia
Competing Interests:
Georgia
Tandilava Rene Z., Cand. Sci. (Med), Associate Professor, Department of Surgery
64, Airport highway, Batumi, 6000
Competing Interests:
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
R. S. Batnidze
JSC «VIAN» M. Iashvili Maternal and Child Central Hospital
Georgia
Competing Interests:
Georgia
Batnidze Roman S., Surgeon, Department of Surgery
64, Airport highway, Batumi, 6000
Competing Interests:
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
Z. R. Tandilava
JSC «VIAN» M. Iashvili Maternal and Child Central Hospital
Georgia
Competing Interests:
Georgia
Tandilava Zurab R., Surgeon, Department of Surgery
64, Airport highway, Batumi, 6000
Competing Interests:
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
References
1. Azenedo S., Lopes J., Marques A. et al. Successful endoscopic resolution of a large gastric bezoar in a child. World J Gastrointest Endosc. 2011;3(6):129–132. https://doi.org/10.4253/wjge.v3.i6.129.
2. Vaughan E. D. Jr, Sawyers J. L., Scott H. W. Jr. The Rapunzel syndrome. An unusual complication of intestinal bezoar. Surgery. 1968;63(2): 339–43.
3. Emre A. U., Tascilar O., Karadeniz G. et al. Rapunzel syndrome of a cotton bezoar in a multimorbid patient. Clinics (Sao Paulo). 2008;63(2):285– 8. https://doi.org/10.1590/s1807-59322008000200021.
4. Gorter R. R., Kneepkens C. M., Mattens E. C. et al. Management of trichobezoar: case report and literature review. Pediatr Surg Int. 2010;26(5):457–63. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-010-2570-0.
5. Alsafwah S., Alzein M. Small bowel obstruction due to trichobezoar: role of upper endoscopy in diagnosis. Gastrointest Endosc. 2000;52(6):784– 6. https://doi.org/10.1067/mge.2000.108927.
6. Kwon H. J., Park J. Treatment of large gastric trichobezoar in children: Two case reports and literature review. Medicine (Baltimore). 2023;102(16):e33589. https://doi.org/10.1097/MD.0000000000033589.
7. Nirasawa Y., Mori T., Ito Y. et al. Laparoscopic removal of a large gastric trichobezoar. J Pediatr Surg. 1998;33(4):663–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0022-3468(98)90342-6.
8. Kanetaka K., Azuma T., Ito S. et al. Two-channel method for retrieval of gastric trichobezoar: report of a case. J Pediatr Surg. 2003;38(2):1–2. https://doi.org/10.1053/jpsu.2003.50067.
9. Dorn H. F., Gillick J. L., Stringel G. Laparoscopic intragastric removal of giant trichobezoar. JSLS. 2010;14(2):259–62. https://doi.org/10.4293/108680810X12785289144520.
10. Marique L., Wirtz M., Henkens A. et al. Gastric perforation due to giant trichobezoar in a 13-year-old child. J Gastrointest Surg. 2017;21(6):1093–1094. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11605-016-3272-2.
Supplementary files
Review
For citations:
Tandilava R.Z., Batnidze R.S., Tandilava Z.R. Giant gastric trichobezoar and Rapunzel syndrome in a 15-year-old girl. Grekov's Bulletin of Surgery. 2025;184(3):90-94. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.24884/0042-4625-2025-184-3-90-94
Views:
23
Email this article 