[Rapunzel syndrome, an rare form of intestinal trichobezoars]

Rapunzel syndrome is a rare cause of intestinal trichobezoar. Especially adolescent girls with uncharacteristical abdominal symptoms as well as weight loss and trichophagia are affected. The symptoms are caused by large amounts of swallowed hair within the stomach which can extend far into the intestinuum. Beside conventional radiology and sonography the diagnostic procedure of choice is endoscopy. If endoscopic removal of the bezoar fails surgical intervention is mandatory. As many of these patients show emotional disorders psychiatric evaluation and treatment has to be done to prevent recurrence. We report on a 12 year old girl with a huge trichobezoar which completely filled the stomach and extended far into the small bowel. As the bezoar could not completely be removed by endoscopy the girl had to be treated by surgery.