Rapunzel Syndrome—An Extremely Rare Cause of Digestive Symptoms in Children: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature
Rapunzel syndrome is an extremely rare condition seen in adolescents or young females with psychiatric disorders consisting of a gastric trichobezoar with an extension within the small bowel. The delays in diagnosis are common since in its early stages, it is usually asymptomatic. We report the case...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-06-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Pediatrics |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2021.684379/full |
| _version_ | 1819107178592600064 |
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| author | Cristina Oana Marginean Lorena Elena Melit Maria Oana Sasaran Razvan Marginean Zoltan Derzsi |
| author_facet | Cristina Oana Marginean Lorena Elena Melit Maria Oana Sasaran Razvan Marginean Zoltan Derzsi |
| author_sort | Cristina Oana Marginean |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Rapunzel syndrome is an extremely rare condition seen in adolescents or young females with psychiatric disorders consisting of a gastric trichobezoar with an extension within the small bowel. The delays in diagnosis are common since in its early stages, it is usually asymptomatic. We report the case of a 13-year-old girl admitted in our clinic for abdominal pain, anorexia, and weight loss. The clinical exam pointed out diffuse alopecia, a palpable mass in the epigastric area, and abdominal tenderness at palpation, the patient weighing 32 kg. The laboratory tests showed anemia. The abdominal ultrasound showed a gastric intraluminal mass with a superior hyperechoic arc. The upper digestive endoscopy revealed a mass formed by hair, mucus, and food occupying the gastric cavity with the extension into the duodenum confirming the diagnosis of Rapunzel syndrome. The giant trichobezoar of 511 g, measuring 17 × 7 × 6.5 cm with a tail of approximately 3 cm, was successfully removed through laparotomy. Although rare, Rapunzel syndrome must never be forgotten as a differential diagnosis for digestive symptoms since its early detection hinders the occurrence of further complications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T02:49:54Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-860afc806ade494a82676ea39ccd922c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-2360 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T02:49:54Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj.art-860afc806ade494a82676ea39ccd922c2022-12-21T18:41:24ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pediatrics2296-23602021-06-01910.3389/fped.2021.684379684379Rapunzel Syndrome—An Extremely Rare Cause of Digestive Symptoms in Children: A Case Report and a Review of the LiteratureCristina Oana Marginean0Lorena Elena Melit1Maria Oana Sasaran2Razvan Marginean3Zoltan Derzsi4Department of Pediatrics I, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureş, Târgu Mureş, RomaniaDepartment of Pediatrics I, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureş, Târgu Mureş, RomaniaDepartment of Pediatrics III, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureş, Târgu Mureş, RomaniaDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, County Emergency Clinical Hospital of Târgu Mureş, Târgu Mureş, RomaniaDepartment of Pediatric Surgery, George Emil Palade University of Medicine, Pharmacy, Science, and Technology of Târgu Mureş, RomaniaRapunzel syndrome is an extremely rare condition seen in adolescents or young females with psychiatric disorders consisting of a gastric trichobezoar with an extension within the small bowel. The delays in diagnosis are common since in its early stages, it is usually asymptomatic. We report the case of a 13-year-old girl admitted in our clinic for abdominal pain, anorexia, and weight loss. The clinical exam pointed out diffuse alopecia, a palpable mass in the epigastric area, and abdominal tenderness at palpation, the patient weighing 32 kg. The laboratory tests showed anemia. The abdominal ultrasound showed a gastric intraluminal mass with a superior hyperechoic arc. The upper digestive endoscopy revealed a mass formed by hair, mucus, and food occupying the gastric cavity with the extension into the duodenum confirming the diagnosis of Rapunzel syndrome. The giant trichobezoar of 511 g, measuring 17 × 7 × 6.5 cm with a tail of approximately 3 cm, was successfully removed through laparotomy. Although rare, Rapunzel syndrome must never be forgotten as a differential diagnosis for digestive symptoms since its early detection hinders the occurrence of further complications.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2021.684379/fullRapunzel syndromechildrentrichotillomaniatrichobezoartrichophagia |
| spellingShingle | Cristina Oana Marginean Lorena Elena Melit Maria Oana Sasaran Razvan Marginean Zoltan Derzsi Rapunzel Syndrome—An Extremely Rare Cause of Digestive Symptoms in Children: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature Frontiers in Pediatrics Rapunzel syndrome children trichotillomania trichobezoar trichophagia |
| title | Rapunzel Syndrome—An Extremely Rare Cause of Digestive Symptoms in Children: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature |
| title_full | Rapunzel Syndrome—An Extremely Rare Cause of Digestive Symptoms in Children: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature |
| title_fullStr | Rapunzel Syndrome—An Extremely Rare Cause of Digestive Symptoms in Children: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rapunzel Syndrome—An Extremely Rare Cause of Digestive Symptoms in Children: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature |
| title_short | Rapunzel Syndrome—An Extremely Rare Cause of Digestive Symptoms in Children: A Case Report and a Review of the Literature |
| title_sort | rapunzel syndrome an extremely rare cause of digestive symptoms in children a case report and a review of the literature |
| topic | Rapunzel syndrome children trichotillomania trichobezoar trichophagia |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fped.2021.684379/full |
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