Unusual Cause of Palpable Mass in Upper Abdomen - Giant Gastric Trichobezoar: Report of a Case

A trichobezoar is a ball of swallowed hair that accumulates in the stomach and fails to pass through the intestines. Usually a trichobezoar presents in early satiety and malnutrition. Obstructive symptoms and manifestations of gastric outlet obstruction may occur. While small gastric trichobezoars m...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta chirurgica belgica 2012-03, Vol.112 (2), p.160-163
Main Authors: POGORELIC, Z, JURIC, I, ZITKO, V, BRITVIC-PAVLOV, S, BIOCIC, M
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Bezoars - diagnosis
Bezoars - etiology
Bezoars - surgery
Biological and medical sciences
Female
General aspects
Hair
Humans
Laparotomy - methods
Medical sciences
Stomach - surgery
Treatment Outcome
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Summary:A trichobezoar is a ball of swallowed hair that accumulates in the stomach and fails to pass through the intestines. Usually a trichobezoar presents in early satiety and malnutrition. Obstructive symptoms and manifestations of gastric outlet obstruction may occur. While small gastric trichobezoars may be removed via gastroscopy, large trichobezoars require surgical removal by gastrotomy through abdominal incision. We present a case of a successful mini-laparotomy removal of a giant gastric trichobezoar in a 15-year-old girl with a history of trichophagia for a long time and marginal psychological disturbances.
ISSN:0001-5458
DOI:10.1080/00015458.2012.11680816