Rapunzel syndrome

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Rapunzel syndrome is an extremely rare intestinal condition in humans resulting from eating hair (trichophagia).[1][2] The syndrome is named after the long-haired girl Rapunzel in the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. Trichophagia is sometimes associated with the hair-pulling disorder trichotillomania.[3]

Signs and symptoms

Characteristics of the syndrome include:

  • The body of a trichobezoar (hairball) located in the stomach, and its tail (hence the reference to Rapunzel in the syndrome's name) in the small bowel and/or in the right colon
  • Small or large bowel obstruction
  • Occurring in psychiatric patients
  • Trichotillomania

Treatment

Because the human gastrointestinal tract is unable to digest human hair, the trichobezoar may have to be treated surgically.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Sah DE, Koo J, Price VH (2008). "Trichotillomania" (PDF). Dermatol Ther 21 (1): 13–21. doi:10.1111/j.1529-8019.2008.00165.x. PMID 18318881. 
  2. ↑ Ventura DE, Herbella FA, Schettini ST, Delmonte C (2005). "Rapunzel syndrome with a fatal outcome in a neglected child". J. Pediatr. Surg. 40 (10): 1665–7. doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2005.06.038. PMID 16227005. 
  3. ↑ Chamberlain SR, Menzies L, Sahakian BJ, Fineberg NA (April 2007). "Lifting the veil on trichotillomania". Am J Psychiatry 164 (4): 568–74. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.164.4.568. PMID 17403968. 
  4. ↑ Gorter RR, Kneepkens CM, Mattens EC, Aronson DC, Heij HA (May 2010). "Management of trichobezoar: case report and literature review". Pediatr. Surg. Int. 26 (5): 457–63. doi:10.1007/s00383-010-2570-0. PMC 2856853. PMID 20213124. 

Further reading

  • Duncan ND, Aitken R, Venugopal S, West W, Carpenter R (June 1994). "The Rapunzel syndrome. Report of a case and review of the literature". West Indian Med J 43 (2): 63–5. PMID 7941500. 
  • Levy RM, Komanduri S (November 2007). "Images in clinical medicine. Trichobezoar". N. Engl. J. Med. 357 (21): e23. doi:10.1056/NEJMicm067796. PMID 18032760. Lay summary – CNN (2007-11-22). 
  • Matejů E, Duchanová S, Kovac P, Moravanský N, Spitz DJ (September 2009). "Fatal case of Rapunzel syndrome in neglected child". Forensic Sci. Int. 190 (1-3): e5–7. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.05.008. PMID 19505779. 
  • Pul N, Pul M (1996). "The Rapunzel syndrome (trichobezoar) causing gastric perforation in a child: a case report". Eur. J. Pediatr. 155 (1): 18–9. PMID 8750804. 
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