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[A duodenal trichophytobezoar].
O R Capeche1, L M Bourbón, P R Cánepa
1Servicio de Cirugía, Hospital Militar de Campo de Mayo, Provincia de Buenos Aires, República Argentina.
Acta Gastroenterologica Latinoamericana
|January 1, 1987
Summary
A rare case of duodenal trichophytobezoar caused intestinal obstruction in a young man. Anxiety-driven behavioral changes, possibly linked to military service, may have triggered this unusual ingestion.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Psychiatry
- Case Study
Background:
- Trichophytobezoars, hairballs in the digestive tract, are rare and often associated with specific psychological conditions.
- Intestinal obstruction is a serious condition requiring prompt diagnosis and management.
Observation:
- A 20-year-old male soldier presented with symptoms of intestinal obstruction.
- Surgical intervention revealed a large trichophytobezoar in the duodenum.
- The patient exhibited behavioral alterations, including "border-line" schizophrenia and hysteroschizoid characteristics with oral anxiety.
Findings:
- No evidence of trichophagy (hair eating) or ingestion of other known bezoar-forming substances was identified.
- The absence of typical etiological factors suggests an atypical cause for the bezoar formation.
- Behavioral changes, potentially exacerbated by military service-related anxiety, are hypothesized as the primary catalyst for the unusual ingestion.
Implications:
- This case highlights the potential role of psychological distress and anxiety in the formation of gastrointestinal bezoars, even in the absence of typical risk factors.
- It underscores the importance of considering psychiatric comorbidities in the differential diagnosis of intestinal obstruction, particularly in young individuals.
- Further research into the complex interplay between psychological factors and bezoar formation is warranted to improve diagnostic and therapeutic strategies.