Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2025
06:56
Author Spotlight: Developing Tools to Tune the Activity of Tyrosine Phosphatases
Published on: September 6, 2024
431
The Rapunzel syndrome: a hairy tale.
Luca Schuler1, Martina Hodel2, Claudia Stieger3
1Department of Emergency Medicine, Cantonal Hospital of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland. drlucaschuler@gmail.com.
Surgical Case Reports
|March 28, 2023
Summary
Rapunzel syndrome, a rare bezoar variant, requires surgical intervention and psychiatric evaluation. Early diagnosis and multidisciplinary care are crucial for successful management of this gastric and intestinal obstruction.
Area of Science:
- Gastroenterology
- Surgical Case Reports
Background:
- Trichobezoars are rare gastric masses, often linked to psychiatric conditions.
- Rapunzel syndrome is a specific type of trichobezoar extending into the small intestine, causing obstruction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a case report on Rapunzel syndrome.
- To discuss diagnostic and surgical management strategies.
- To highlight the role of psychiatric factors in trichobezoar formation.
Main Methods:
- Case report detailing clinical presentation, diagnosis, and surgical removal.
- Discussion of various surgical approaches.
- Psychiatric evaluation to understand trichophagia.
Main Results:
- Successful surgical removal of a large Rapunzel syndrome bezoar.
- Insights into the psychological underpinnings of trichobezoar development.
Conclusions:
- Emphasizes the necessity of a multidisciplinary team approach.
- Highlights the potential for preventing fatal outcomes in complex cases.
Related Concept Videos
01:15REM Sleep Behavior Disorder
301
REM Sleep Behavior Disorder (RBD) is a sleep disorder characterized by the absence of muscle paralysis that normally occurs during the REM phase of sleep. This absence allows individuals to physically act out their dreams, which are often vivid and disturbing. Common behaviors exhibited during episodes include kicking, punching, and yelling. These actions can be dangerous, potentially leading to injuries for the person with RBD or their bed partner.
RBD is significantly associated with...
RBD is significantly associated with...
301
01:33Pleiotropy
40.7K
Pleiotropy is the phenomenon in which a single gene impacts multiple, seemingly unrelated phenotypic traits. For example, defects in the SOX10 gene cause Waardenburg Syndrome Type 4, or WS4, which can cause defects in pigmentation, hearing impairments, and an absence of intestinal contractions necessary for elimination. This diversity of phenotypes results from the expression pattern of SOX10 in early embryonic and fetal development. SOX10 is found in neural crest cells that form melanocytes,...
40.7K
01:28Anorexia Nervosa
163
Anorexia nervosa is a complex and severe eating disorder characterized by an intense fear of weight gain, an unrelenting pursuit of thinness, and a distorted body image. It often leads to dangerously low body weight relative to an individual's age and height. This disorder is marked by significant physical and psychological consequences, making it one of the most life-threatening psychiatric illnesses.
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
Symptoms and Physical Effects
Individuals with anorexia nervosa commonly exhibit extreme...
163
02:18Alternative RNA Splicing
21.5K
Alternative RNA splicing is the regulated splicing of exons and introns to produce different mature mRNAs from a single pre-mRNA. Unlike in constitutive splicing where a single gene produces a single type of mRNA, alternative splicing allows an organism to produce multiple proteins from a single gene and plays an important role in protein diversity.
There are five types of alternative RNA splicing that vary in the ways the pre-mRNA segments are removed or retained in the mature mRNA. The first...
There are five types of alternative RNA splicing that vary in the ways the pre-mRNA segments are removed or retained in the mature mRNA. The first...
21.5K
01:19Autism Spectrum Disorder
177
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition marked by persistent deficits in social communication and interaction alongside restrictive and repetitive behaviors or interests. ASD is sometimes accompanied by intellectual impairment.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
These core symptoms manifest differently among individuals, ranging from mild to severe. The disorder's complexity extends beyond its clinical presentation, encompassing a diverse range of biological, cognitive, and sociocultural influences.
177
01:49Meiosis I
193.9K
Meiosis is a carefully orchestrated set of cell divisions, the goal of which—in humans—is to produce haploid sperm or eggs, each containing half the number of chromosomes present in somatic cells elsewhere in the body. Meiosis I is the first such division, and involves several key steps, among them: condensation of replicated chromosomes in diploid cells; the pairing of homologous chromosomes and their exchange of information; and finally, the separation of homologous chromosomes by...
193.9K