Rapunzel syndrome

Rapunzel Syndrome (also known as Trichobezoar) is an extremely rare intestinal condition in humans resulting from the consumption of hair. It is named after the beautiful long-haired character Rapunzel in the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm.

Its characteristics include:

• The body of a trichobezoar (hairball) located in the stomach, and its tail in the small bowel and/or in the right colon
• Small or large bowel obstruction
• Occurring in psychiatric patients
• Trichotillomania

At least fourteen cases have been reported in the pediatric age group.

As the human gastrointestinal tract is unable to digest human hairs, the trichobezoar usually has to be treated surgically.

• Sattar Memon, Parkash Mandhan, Javed Qureshi, Asif Shairani: Recurrent Rapunzel syndrome – a case report
• S. T. Hirugade, M. C. Talpallikar, A. V. Deshpande, J. S. Gavali, S. S. Borwankar: Rapunzel syndrome with a long tail
• N. D. Duncan, R. Aitken, S. Venugopal, W. West, R. Carpenter: The Rapunzel syndrome. Report of a case and review of the literature

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