Gastric trichobezoar presenting as gastric outlet obstruction--a case report.

ABSTRACT

Trichobezoars are impactions of swallowed hairs in the stomach and occasionally in the intestine. They occur in emotionally disturbed, depressed, or mentally retarded patients who have trichotillomania and trichophagia. Removal of gastric trichobezoar by open surgery (gastrotomy) is a standard approach. Psychiatric follow-up is needed to diminish the recurrence of trichotillomania and trichophagia. Here, we report a case of large gastric trichobezoar presenting as gastric outlet obstruction in a 13-years-old girl. She was treated with open surgical extraction of the bezoar and behavioral therapy.