What is Rapunzel Syndrome?
Kerala doctors recently removed a one-kg hair mass from a nine-year-old girl’s stomach and small intestine in a rare Rapunzel syndrome surgery.
- Rapunzel syndrome is a very rare condition in which a large hair ball (trichobezoar) gets lodged in stomach and extends into small intestine.
- The condition was first described in 1968. It’s named after a fairy-tale character, Rapunzel, who was known for her long hair.
- This condition is much more common among women than men.
- Rapunzel Syndrome is strongly linked to trichotillomania and trichophagia.
- Trichotillomania is a disorder wherein a person repeatedly feels the urge to pull out their own hair, and trichophagia is a condition wherein the pulled or loose hair is swallowed.
- Endoscopy can sometimes be used to remove smaller hairballs, but very large masses or those causing obstruction generally require surgery.
Surgery involves removing the hair mass from the stomach and, when necessary, the intestine.
