El largo camino de la tricotilomania al síndrome de Rapunzel / The Long Road from Trichotillomania to Rapunzel Syndrome

Introducción: La tricotilomania, la tricofagia y el tricobezoar son afecciones entrelazadas e interconectadas. Estas deben tenerse en cuenta especialmente en féminas jóvenes que a menudo tienen una enfermedad psiquiátrica o trastorno social subyacente y es posible que la historia sea difícil de obtener. Objetivo: Presentar un caso portador de tricobezoar gástrico, por su baja incidencia en nuestro medio y a nivel mundial. Caso clínico: Paciente femenina de 12 años de edad, con antecedentes de retraso psicomotor, sin seguimiento o tratamiento previo. Acudió a consulta traída por su madre que aduce aumento de volumen en hemiabdomen superior de 5 años de evolución con pérdida de peso insidiosa. Los estudios radiológicos revelaron un tricobezoar gástrico que se corrobora, asociado a un síndrome de Rapunzel, en la laparotomía exploratoria. La paciente evolucionó satisfactoriamente y es seguida por grupo multidisciplinario. Conclusiones: Los bezoares gástricos son entidades poco frecuentes. Para el diagnóstico es necesario un alto índice de sospecha de conjunto con estudios radiográficos y/o endoscópicos. El tratamiento estará determinado por el tipo de bezoar, tamaño y consistencia. La opción quirúrgica es la más usada, con el consecuente seguimiento interdisciplinario para evitar recurrencias(AU)

Introduction: Trichotillomania, trichophagia and trichobezoar are intertwined and interconnected conditions. These should be considered, especially in young women who often have an underlying psychiatric illness or social disorder and possibly a history difficult to get. Objective: To report a case of gastric trichobezoar due to its low incidence in our environment and worldwide. Clinical case report: We report the case of a 12-year-old female patient with a history of psychomotor retardation, with no prior follow-up or treatment, who came to consult with her mother, complaining of increased volume in the upper abdomen, of 5 years of evolution with malignant weight loss. Radiological studies reveal a gastric trichobezoar that is corroborated, associated with Rapunzel syndrome, in the exploratory laparotomy. The patient evolved satisfactorily and a multidisciplinary group assisted her. Conclusions: Gastric bezoars are rare entities. Diagnosis requires high level of suspicion together with radiographic and/or endoscopic studies. The treatment will be determined by the type of bezoar, size and consistency. The surgical option is the most used, requiring interdisciplinary follow-up to avoid recurrences(AU)

Gastric trichobezoar and Rapunzel syndrome: a case report

Giant gastric trichobezoars are unusual form of foreign body found in stomach of mostly young adolescent females which may lead to morbidity and high mortality 30%, if goes unnoticed. These females have history of trichophagia or trichotillomania. This report is of a 12- year old young adolescent female presented with epigastric pain and mass. An exploratory laparotomy with anterior gastrotomy was performed and a giant trichobezoar with a very large tail of 2.5 ft was removed, weighing 2.52 kg. She recovered well and was discharged on 7th post-operative day. Patient was advised for psychiatric follow up.

Tricobezoar gastroduodenal en la edad escolar: Caso clínico / Gastroduodenal Trichobezoar in school age: Case report

Los bezoares son acumulaciones de sustancias orgánicas en el tracto gastrointestinal. El tricobezoar hace referencia a la acumulación de cabello, por lo general, en el estómago e incluso más allá de este (síndrome de Rapunzel). La incidencia de esta enfermedad es extremadamente rara; el 90 % de los casos se presentan en las mujeres, y el 80 % de estos ocurren en menores de 30 años y se encuentran relacionados con conductas de ansiedad y trastornos psiquiátricos. El abordaje integral en estos pacientes es fundamental, junto con el seguimiento interdisciplinario, para tratar las causas psicoemocionales subyacentes y realizar una adecuada psicoeducación con los pacientes y sus familiares, para disminuir el riesgo de posibles recidivas. Se presenta el caso clínico de una paciente en edad escolar, con antecedente de maltrato físico por parte de su padrastro y posteriores conductas ansiosas (tricotilomanía y tricofagia).

Bezoar is an accumulation of organic substances in the gastrointestinal tract; trichobezoar refers to the accumulation of hair usually in the stomach and even beyond it (Rapunzel syndrome). The incidence of this condition is extremely rare, 90 % of cases occur in women, and 80 % of these occur in those under 30 years of age and are related to anxiety behaviors and psychiatric disorders. The integral approach in these patients is fundamental, together with the interdisciplinary follow-up, treating the underlying psycho-emotional causes and adequate psychoeducation with the patients and their relatives, in order to reduce the risk of possible recurrences. We present the clinical case of a patient of school age, with a history of physical abuse by her stepfather and subsequent anxious behaviors (trichotillomania and trichophagia).

Síndrome de Rapunzel con doble tricobezoar simultáneo en una adolescente: Reporte de caso / Rapunzel syndrome with double simultaneous trichobezoar in a teenager: Clinical Case Report

Resumen: Introducción: Los tricobezoares son acúmulos intraluminales de cabello ingerido. El síndrome de Rapunzel hace referencia a la presencia de los tricobezoares gástricos que se extienden al intestino delgado, sumados a la tricotilomanía y tricofagia, los cuales ocurren preferentemente en pacientes psiquiátricos en edad pediátrica. Objetivo: Analizar la aparición y manejo de este síndrome, propor cionando de igual manera datos acerca del entorno familiar y psicoemocional para que, por medio del análisis de los mismos, en un futuro se pueda identificar el riesgo en pacientes con circunstancias similares. Caso clínico: Paciente femenina de 14 años con antecedentes de tricotilomanía y tricofagia de dos años de evolución, que consultó por cuadro de dolor epigástrico asociado a sensación de plenitud posprandial, náuseas y pérdida de peso. Al examen destacaban áreas alopécicas en el cuero cabelludo y a la palpación abdominal se identificó un plastrón cuyo contorno parecía corresponder a los límites gástricos. En los estudios de imágenes se encontró una ocupación gástrica por bezoar. Con la laparotomía más gastrostomía se identificaron dos tricobezoares simultáneos en estómago y duodeno, que fueron resueltos quirúrgicamente y la paciente fue manejada con abordaje psicoemocional. Conclusión: El síndrome de Rapunzel, lejos de ser meramente una entidad quirúrgica, requiere un apoyo psicoemocional para prevenir su recurrencia y limitar su severidad.

Resumen: Introduction: Trichobezoars are an intraluminal accumulation of ingested hair. The Rapunzel syndrome refers to the presence of gastric trichobezoars which extend to the small intestine together with trichotillomania and trichophagia, that occur predominantly in psychiatric patients of pediatric age. Objective: To analyze the clinical course and resolution of this syndrome in a case report. Likewise, we provide information about the family environment and psycho-emotional context of the patients and help the reader identify similar circumstances in their clinical practice. Case report: Female 14-year-old patient with history of trichotillomania and trichophagia of two years of evolution, who consulted for epigastric pain associated with weight loss, nausea, and postprandial fullness. During the physical examination, the patient was found to have bald patches in the scalp along with a palpable mass that seemed to be confined to the gastric limits. Imaging studies revealed gastric occupation due to a bezoar formation. The patient was treated surgically with laparotomy and gastrostomy, and two simultaneous trichobezoars were removed from the patient´s stomach and duodenum, the patient also underwent psycho-emotional professional counseling. Conclusion: Rapunzel´s syndrome, far for being a merely surgical entity, also requires psychoemotional assessment to prevent it recurrence and limit its severity.

Tricobezoar. reporte de caso / Tricobezoar - case report / Trichobezoar - estudo do caso

El Tricobezoar es la acumulación de pelo en el tracto gastrointestinal generalmente asociado a trastornos psiquiátricos que conlleva a sintomatología obstructiva, deficiencias metabólicas y puede llevar a perforación intestinal, pancreatitis, intususcepción y colangitis. Caso: Paciente femenina de 11 años con cuadro clínico de 1 semana de evolución de dolor abdominal en epigastrio asociado a ausencia de deposiciones y antecedente de cuadro similar hace 2 semanas que resolvió con enema oral, se documentó Tricobezoar de 13 x 5 cm que generaba gran distensión en asas intestinales que fue removido por laparotomía con éxito. Conclusiones: Es una patología poco común asociada a un trastorno psicológico, que debe ser manejada quirúrgicamente en pro de prevenir complicaciones e incluye un tratamiento conjunto con psiquiatría y psicología para evitar recurrencias.

The Trichobezoar is the accumulation of hair on the gastrointestinal tract associated with psychiatric disorders generally leading to obstructive symptoms, metabolic deficiencies and, in some cases, intestinal perforation, pancreatitis, cholangitis or intussusception. Case: 11 years old female patient with clinical symptoms of 1 week duration of epigastric abdominal pain associated with bowel movements, patient referred history of similar symptoms two weeks ago that resolved with oral enema, tomography revealed a Trichobezoar 13 x 5 cm generating large strained bowel loops which was successfully removed by laparotomy. Conclusions: Trichobezoar is a rare entity associated with a psychological disorder that needs to be handled surgically towards preventing complications and includes a set psychiatric and psychological treatment to prevent recurrences

Trichobezoar é o acúmulo de pêlos no trato gastrointestinal associado com transtornos psiquiátricos geralmente levando a sintomas obstrutivos, deficiências metabólicas e, em alguns casos, perfuração intestinal, pancreatite, colangite ou intussuscepção. Caso: Paciente do sexo feminino com 11 anos de idade com sintomas clínicos de 1 semana de duração da dor abdominal epigástrica associada a movimentos intestinais, paciente relatou história de sintomas semelhantes há duas semanas que resolveram com enema oral, a tomografia revelou um tricobezoar de 13 x 5 cm, foi removido com sucesso por laparotomia. Conclusões: Trichobezoar é uma entidade rara associada a um transtorno psicológico que precisa ser tratado cirurgicamente para prevenir complicações e inclui um conjunto de tratamento psiquiátrico e psicológico para prevenir recorrências

Stomach trichobezoar (rapunzel syndrome) with iatrogenic intussusception

We present a rare case of stomach trichobezoar complicated with iatrogenic intussusception noted intra-operatively after failed attempt of endoscopic removal in a 13-year-old girl. At presentation, she had gastric outlet obstruction with anaemia. Endoscopy established the diagnosis of trichobezoar. Surgical removal was warranted after failed endoscopic removal. Her postoperative course was uneventful. Detailed history and careful examination disclosed trichotillomania and associated trichophagia. Psychiatric referral was sought with the intention to prevent future recurrence.

Tricobezoar, a proposito de un caso / Tricobezoar, a case report

El tricobezoar es una masa de cabello no digerido que se encuentra en las vías gastrointestinal. Se alojan frecuentemente en el estómago pero se pueden ubicar a todo lo largo del tracto gastrointestinal. Se observan en sexo femenino en el 90% de los casos, y con una mayor frecuencia entre los 10 y 19 años. Se presenta el caso de una adolescente femenina de 11 años de edad quien cursa con enfermedad actual de 1 mes de evolución caracterizada por dolor abdominal, vómitos alimenticios pospandriales y pérdida de peso. Al examen se palpa una masa que ocupa el hemiabdomen superior. Se realiza tomografía computarizada de abdomen donde se evidencia imagen hipodensa y heterogénea que ocupaba la totalidad del estómago, compatible con cuerpo extraño. Se realiza laparotomía exploradora donde se evidencia tricobezoar gástrico.

Trichobezoar is a mass of undigested hair found within the gastrointestinal tract. They are often found in the stomach but may be found along the entire gastrointestinal tract. 90% of the cases occur in females between the age of 10 and 19 years. We present the case of an 11 years old girl who suffered abdominal pain, vomiting and weight loss for a month, with a palpable mass located in the upper abdomen quadrant. Abdomen computed tomography reported a hypodense heterogeneous image which occupied the whole of the stomach, compatible with foreign body. At laparotomy a gastric tricobezoar was found.

Double Jeopardy - A Case Of Trichotillomania And Intellectual Disability

Objective: The commonest age of onset for Trichotillomania is between 9 to 13 years of age and at times triggered by Depression and stress. According to literature, the best treatment is a combination of clomipramine and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy. The objective of this index case is to present a patient with an older age of onset, and with co-morbid intellectual disability and the challenges faced during treatment because of the comorbidity. Methods: A case of Intellectual disability who presented with Trichotillomania, and Trichophagia was chosen and followed up for a period of three years. Results: The hair-pulling behaviour in the index case was due to a strong urge, which was relieved by the behaviour and was not secondary to other symptoms. The course of trichotillomania was independent of the course of aggression as improvement in aggressive symptoms was not accompanied by improvement in hair-pulling behaviour, which responded to administration of Imipramine, though it did not improve with clomipramine and citalopram, which are the medications of choice. Conclusion: The index case suggests customizing treatment according to individual suitability, and choosing a medication that the patient is comfortable with, is important. It also suggests true comorbidity between Intellectual Disability and Trichotillomania, as the symptom of trichotillomania was not secondary to the aggressive behaviour exhibited by the patient.

A Case of Rapunzel Syndrome / 대한소아소화기영양학회지

Rapunzel syndrome refers to a very rare condition in which swallowed hair forms a gastric trichobezoar that has a long tail extending into the small bowel. We describe a case of Rapunzel syndrome in an 8-year-old girl who presented with abdominal mass, epigastric pain and vomiting. Abdominal computed tomography scan showed a markedly dilated stomach filled with coarse heterogeneous materials. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a huge hairy ball with a tail extending through the pylorus. We performed a surgical laparotomy and successfully removed a huge trichobezoar with a long tail extending into the middle portion of jejunum. Psychiatric consultation with review showed her past history of trichotillomania and trichophagia 4 years ago. But her parents denied further psychiatric therapy and she was lost to the follow-up. Rapunzel syndrome should be included in the differential diagnosis in children with chronic abdominal pain and trichophagia.

Síndrome de Rapunzel: revisão de literatura / Rapunzel syndrome: a literature review

Tricobezoar gastroduodenal é definido como o acúmulo de cabelos e pelos no trato gastrointestinal, tendo como origem a ingestão dessas substâncias. As autoras relatam o caso de um volumoso tricobezoar associado à síndrome de Rapunzel, em jovem do sexo feminino com história de tricotilofagia e emagrecimento. Foram utilizados, como base de dados, a revisão de prontuário, a avaliação dos exames realizados e o acompanhamento durante o ato operatório. Apesar de ser um caso incomum, é necessário aventar sua hipótese diagnóstica diante de uma clínica exuberante como a da referida paciente. Não somente o bezoar deve ser adequadamente tratado, mas também a causa subjacente que levou a paciente à ingestão de cabelos.

Gastroduodenal trichobezoar is the accumulation of hair inside the gastroduodenal tract, originated by the ingestion of such object. On the presented study is reported the case of a voluminous trichobezoar associated with Rapunzel's syndrome on a young female with history of trichophagia and weight loss. With this purpose, chart review, assessment of the tests, and monitoring during the surgery were used. Despite being an unusual case, it should be suspected in a clinical exuberant as the patient, and must be properly treated, not only the bezoar itself, but the underlying cause that led to the ingestion of hair.

Pica: el síntoma olvidado / Pica: the forgotten symptom

La pica es un síntoma, no una enfermedad, que se manifiestapor la ingesta persistente y compulsiva de sustancias no comestibles como tierra, arcilla, tiza, jabón y materia fecal, o comestibles como hielo (pagofagia), almidón (amilofagia), papa, arroz y café, entre otras, en forma compulsiva y desenfrenada. Las formas más frecuentes de pica son la geofagia o consumo de tierra y la pagofagia o consumo de hielo. Similar a otros síntomas en medicina, como la fiebre y la anemia, la pica es un síntoma multicausal, siendo la deficiencia de hierro y la deficiencia de zinc las asociaciones más frecuentes, en donde el médico, antes que tratarla, debe identificar la causa íntima con la cual está relacionada y corregirla, como esposible en la mayoría de los casos en donde se presenta pica. La pica a pesar de ser un síntoma, de acuerdo con el tipo de pica y la intensidad de ésta, puede causar morbilidad y mortalidad. Dentro de las complicaciones relacionadas con la pica se incluyen los trastornos electrolíticos, la obstrucción y el daño del tracto digestivo por algunos tipos de pica, como la geofagia y la tricofagia, y la pica por objetos tan extraños como los plásticos (plasticofagia) y el velcro (velcrofagia). Su diagnóstico, que solo consiste en interrogar sobre esta práctica a los pacientes o a quienes los cuidan, en el caso de los niños y los pacientes con enfermedad mental, usualmente esignorado durante la atención de los pacientes, muy probablementedebido al desconocimiento por parte del equipo de salud respecto a este trastorno o falta de tiempo en la consulta médica. El objetivo de este módulo es llamar la atención sobre este signo clínico cardinal, de tal manera que a partir de él se puedan identificar desdesus primeras etapas problemas latentes, aun antes de que se manifieste clínicamente la enfermedad de base o las complicaciones con ella asociadas.

Pica is a symptom not a disease, manifested by the persistent and compulsive eating of non-nutritious substances like ice, soil, clay, chalk, soap and stool, or nutritious substances such as ice (pagophagia), starch (amilophagia), potato, rice and coffee,among others, with unrestrained binge. The most common forms of pica are geophagia or soil consumption and pagophagia or ice consumption. Similar to other medical symptoms such as fever and anemia, pica is a symptom caused by multiple factors, being ironand zinc deficiencies the most frequent associations, where the physician, rather than treat it, must identify the intimate cause which is associated with, and correct it, as is possible in most cases of pica.Pica, despite being a symptom, according to the type and intensity, cancause morbidity and mortality. Among the complications associated with pica are electrolyte disorders, obstruction and damage of the digestive tract by some types of pica, such as geophagy and trichophagia, and pica of foreign objects such as plastics and velcro.Its diagnosis, which only consists in questioning this practice to patients or their caregivers, in the case of children and patients with mental illness, is usually ignored in the care of patients, most likely due to ignorance of the health team about this disorder, or lack of time during the medical consultation. The aim of this module is to callattention to this cardinal clinical sign, so that latent problems can be identified early, even before the underlying disease manifests or the complications associated with it.

Tricobezoar gástrico perforante / Perforated gastrointestinal trichobezoar

Los bezoares del tracto digestivo constituyen una patología infrecuente, son colecciones de material ingerido que se acumula en estómago e intestino. El tricobezoar hace referencia a un cúmulo de pelo, su sospecha clínica se establece en pacientes jóvenes predominantemente mujeres con historia de masa epigástrica, pérdida de peso y síntomas obstructivos. El diagnóstico se puede realizar con imágenes y endoscopia y su tratamiento consiste en su remoción. Se presenta un caso de tricobezoar perforado en paciente femenina joven, el cual es manejado en el servicio de Cirugía General del Hospital Universitario de Santander.

The gastrointestinal tract bezoars are considered an infrequent pathology; they are collections of ingested material that accumulates in the stomach and intestines. Trichobezoar refers to the cumuli of hair; its clinic suspicion is established in young patients, especially women with history of an epigastric mass, weight loss and obstructive symptoms. Diagnosis can be made by imaging and endoscopy and the treatment consists in its removal. It is presented a case of a young female patient with a perforated trichobezoar which was treated at our service of General Surgery of the Hospital Universitario de Santander.

Tricobezoar gástrico: relato de caso / Gastric trichobezoar: case report

Bezoars are foreign bodies impacted in the digestive tract resulting of their ingestion and accumulation, involving mainly the stomach. The most common types are phytobezoars, contaning vegetables, fiber and seed and the trichobezoar, made of hair. The present case is the description of a 25-year-old female with nonspecific dyspeptic symptoms associated to intestinal habit change. The diagnosis was suggested by Computerized Tomography in association with clinical history - initially omitted by the pacient - of trichophagia for 10 years. Treatment consisted of Anterior Gastrotomy and remotion of the bezoar.

A case of gastric trichobezoar causing psychiatric problems / 소아과

Trichobezoar is characterized by the accumulation of hair in the gastrointestinal tract and usually occurs in those who have trichotillomania, other psychiatric disorders, or neurologic problems. Trichobezoar typically presents as gastric obstruction, including abdominal pain, vomiting, anorexia, and weight loss. A 9-year-old girl visited our clinic with the complaint of abdominal discomfort and vomiting. A review of her medical history revealed that she had trichophagia since the age of 5, and she felt that her parents had been strict with her. She underwent gastrotomy, during which a large trichobezoar was removed. This case highlights the importance of psychiatric and comprehensive approaches in patients with trichobezoar.