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1: J Pediatr Surg. 2005 Oct;40(10):1665-7.Click here to read Links

Rapunzel syndrome with a fatal outcome in a neglected child.

Ventura DE, Herbella FA, Schettini ST, Delmonte C.

Pediatric Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, Escola Paulista de Medicina, UNIFESP, São Paulo 04024-002, Brazil.

The "Rapunzel" syndrome (a trichobezoar with a long tail extending from the stomach to the small bowel) is an uncommon disease. It is related to severe complications but rarely associates to a fatal outcome. We report a case of a 5-year-old girl admitted at the emergency department in cardiorespiratory arrest whose autopsy disclosed an ileal perforation that is caused by a long bezoar extending from the stomach to the small bowel. The authors discuss a possible link between Rapunzel syndrome and child neglect.

PMID: 16227005 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]