Giant gastric trichobezoar and Rapunzel syndrome in a 15-year-old girl

A trichobezoar is a cluster of hairs in the gastrointestinal tract that are stuck together with mucus. It can be formed by the patient’s or another person’s hair, or fibers of various objects. A giant trichobezoar with Rapunzel syndrome in childhood is a rare pathology. The article describes a rare clinical observation of a large gastric trichobezoar and Rapunzel syndrome in a 15-year-old girl. The possibilities of ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) and radiographic examination in diagnosing this pathology are presented. The giant trichobezoar was removed by open surgery. The effect of the operation is good. Due to the lack of early pathognomonic symptoms, early diagnosis of gastric trichobezoar is difficult. A number of instrumental research methods are used to diagnose the disease. The most reliable of them is contrast computed tomography. The only correct method of treating giant gastric trichobezoars is open surgical treatment.