[ abdominal mass due to trichobezoare in a 14- year old girl]

ABSTRACT

Gastric bezoars results from the accumulation of foreign ingested materials in the form of masses or concretions. Bezoars are rare and being found in less than 0.5 percent of patients undergoing upper gastrointestinal endoscopies. Bezoars are classified according to their composition. The major types of bezoars are phytobezoars, trichobezoars and pharmacobezoars. Trichobezoars are typically seen in the women in their 20s. Patients with bezoar remain asymptomatic for many years and develop symptoms insidiously. Common complaints include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, early satiety, anorexia and weight loss. Bezoars have rarely been associated with other gastrointestinal complications such as gastric outlet obstruction [GOO], intestinal obstruction, gastrointestinal bleeding, gastrointestinal perforation, necrotizing pancreatitis, obstructive jaundice, hypochromic anemia, B12 deficiency and abdominal mass. In our case thrichobezoare manifested with an abdominal mass and hypochromic anemia