%0 Case Reports
%T Rapunzel syndrome (gastric trichobezoar), a rare presentation with generalised oedema: case report and review of the literature.
%A Nour I
%A Abd Alatef M
%A Megahed A
%A Yahia S
%A Wahba Y
%A Shabaan AE
%J Paediatr Int Child Health
%V 39
%N 1
%D 02 2019
%M 29057712
%F 2.725
%R 10.1080/20469047.2017.1389809
%X Rapunzel syndrome is a rare form of gastric trichobezoar. A 4-year-old girl presented with generalised oedema and an epigastric mass. Her family was of a relatively low socio-economic background. There was microcytic hypochromic anaemia, hypoalbuminaemia and an elevated α1-antitrypsin clearance. Abdominal ultrasound and non-contrast computed tomography demonstrated a heterogeneous mass related to the stomach. Upper gastro-intestinal tract endoscopy failed to remove it. Surgical laparotomy was undertaken through a single anterior gastrotomy incision and a large mass was extracted which was a cast of the duodenum and stomach and had a tail of approximately 60 cm in length which extended to the jejunum. Low socio-economic status, child neglect and pica are risk factors for trichobezoars. Surgical laparotomy is the optimal treatment of large bezoars.