Medicine and Health Sciences Commons^™

The Trichobezoar Enigma: Untangling The Intricacies Of Rapunzel Syndrome, Debabrata Sahu, Dr Rajkishor Sahu

Digital Journal of Clinical Medicine

Rapunzel Syndrome is a rare manifestation of trichobezoar, characterized by the presence of hair strands extending beyond the stomach and into the duodenum. Trichobezoars typically develop in individuals with a history of trichotillomania, a compulsive behavioral disorder involving hair-pulling, combined with trichophagia, the ingestion of hair. While trichobezoars predominantly form within the stomach, their occurrence in the jejunum is infrequent. This condition is more commonly observed in adolescent females.

The formation of bezoars within the gastrointestinal tract is typically attributed to anatomical changes. However, in cases where no such anatomical abnormalities are present, psychiatric disorders like trichotillomania can lead to …