Rapunzel Syndrome in a Thai Girl with an Asymptomatic Abdominal Mass: A Case Report
Nopaorn Phavichitr MD*, Chanvit Vathanasanti MD**
Affiliation : * Department of Pediatrics, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand ** Division of Pediatric Surgery, Department of Surgery, Phramongkutklao Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand
Rapunzel syndrome is an uncommon form of trichobezoar (a collection of ingested hair in the stomach that fails to pass through the intestine) with an extension of hair into the small bowel. The authors report in the present article a case of Rapunzel syndrome in a 10-year-old Thai girl with an asymptomatic abdominal mass incidentally detected during a hospital visit. She did not have nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, weight loss, or any other symptoms. A movable, firm and smooth epigastric mass 10 x 12 cm in size was found upon examination. Eventually the trichobezoar mass was surgically removed after a failed endoscopic removal.
Keywords : Abdominal mass, Trichobezoar, Rapunzel syndrome
