Rapunzel syndrome is an extremely rare intestinal condition in humans resulting from ingesting hair (trichophagia).[1][2] The syndrome is named after the long-haired girl Rapunzel in the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. Trichophagia is sometimes associated with the hair-pulling disorder trichotillomania.[3] This syndrome is a rare and unusual form of trichobezoar. Since 1968, there have been fewer than 40 documented cases in the literature.[4] This syndrome occurs when the trichobezoar (hairball) reaches past the small intestine, and sometimes even into the colon producing a long tail-like extension of hair (NCBI, 2016).
| Rapunzel syndrome | |
|---|---|
| Specialty | Psychiatry, gastroenterology |
Signs and symptoms
editThe use of the term Rapunzel syndrome first appeared in the literature in 1968.[5]
Characteristics of the syndrome include:[citation needed]
- The body of a trichobezoar (hairball) located in the stomach, and its tail (hence the reference to Rapunzel in the syndrome's name) in the small bowel and/or in the right colon
- Small or large bowel obstruction
- Occurring in psychiatric patients
- Trichotillomania
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea & vomiting
- Gut perforation
- Vitamin B12 deficiency
- Acute pancreatic necrosis
Cause
editRapunzel syndrome is caused by the ingestion of hair. Rapunzel syndrome is characterized by a compulsive disorder of pulling one's own hair and ingesting it. There are several psychiatric disorders that are associated with Rapunzel syndrome, such as trichotillomania, trichophagia, and pica. Trichotillomania is the compulsion to pull out one's own hair; if an individual consumes it after ripping it out as well, it is known as trichophagia. Pica comes from the Latin word for "magpie" and involves the craving of non-food items such as cloth, wool, hair, or even small metallic objects.[citation needed]
Diagnosis
editTrichobezoar can be preoperatively diagnosed. However, the diagnosis of the Rapunzel syndrome has to consider several aspects such as the patient's history with disorders like trichophagia and trichotillomania.[6][7] This syndrome does not appear in the DSM V, and will therefore not be given as such, but will have been diagnosed as severe trichotillomania.[8] The syndrome itself is used to describe the manifestation of a trichobezoar which has extended far into the small intestine. It describes the trichobezoar, not the mental health disorder which precipitated it.[7]
The diagnosis of the syndrome is also done by endoscopy. A CT scan is recommended to determine the size and the extension of the trichobezoar.[5] Upper GI endoscopy is known as the gold standard for the diagnosis of a trichobezoar, however the endoscopy alone might not necessarily detect the co-existing Rapunzel syndrome.
Treatment
editBecause the human gastrointestinal tract is unable to digest human hair, the trichobezoar may have to be treated surgically. This involves removal of the mass by careful extraction from the stomach and duodenum. If the mass is small enough it can be removed endoscopically. Once the mass surpasses greater than 20 centimeters, it must be removed by gastrotomy. It is recommended that general anesthesia with intubation be used when removing the hairball in order to protect the throat from any damage. Patients usually also require psychiatric evaluation and treatment due to the association with impulse control disorders, especially trichotillomania.[9] Long-term follow up as well as psychiatric consultation is also recommended to prevent the event from repeating.[citation needed]
Outcomes
editThe expected outlook after surgical intervention is very promising. The success rate of removal of the mass is above 90% and the complication rate is only near 10%. Recurrence is highly uncommon but can occur if the patient does not follow up on psychological treatment or counseling.[citation needed]
Epidemiology
editRapunzel syndrome is extremely rare, with less than 64 cases reported since 1968. It is mainly seen in emotionally or mentally disturbed young or adolescent females. The first known case dates back to a 16-year-old boy in 1779; this was eventually published by Vaughan et al. in 1968. Of the cases reported, the typical age range affected from this syndrome is between 4 and 19 years of age. There is no specific region that is subject to developing this condition, however of the cases reported all of the women came from countries where women traditionally had long hair. Women are more subject to this disorder because women often have longer hair than men. There is only one reported male case of Rapunzel syndrome, but he was eating his sister's hair and not his own.[citation needed]
Research
editAlthough this condition is extremely rare, researchers have mentioned that it is absolutely critical that prevention methods are taken after surgery. The most common reason for recurrence in patients is lack of follow-up care and incompletion of psychological treatment. Researchers have concluded that 92.5% of all cases reported were treated by laparotomy with a 99% success rate (NCBI,2016). There have been few reports of successful treatment through laparoscopic surgery, however this has only been reported to be done in pediatric patients.[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ Sah DE, Koo J, Price VH (2008). "Trichotillomania" (PDF). Dermatol Ther. 21 (1): 13–21. doi:10.1111/j.1529-8019.2008.00165.x. PMID 18318881.[dead link]
- ^ Ventura DE, Herbella FA, Schettini ST, Delmonte C (2005). "Rapunzel syndrome with a fatal outcome in a neglected child". J. Pediatr. Surg. 40 (10): 1665–7. doi:10.1016/j.jpedsurg.2005.06.038. PMID 16227005.
- ^ Chamberlain SR, Menzies L, Sahakian BJ, Fineberg NA (April 2007). "Lifting the veil on trichotillomania". Am J Psychiatry. 164 (4): 568–74. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.164.4.568. PMID 17403968.
- ^ Gonuguntla, Veena; Joshi, Divya-Devi (2009). "Rapunzel Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review of an Unusual Case of Trichobezoar". Clinical Medicine & Research. 7 (3): 99–102. doi:10.3121/cmr.2009.822. ISSN 1539-4182. PMC 2757434. PMID 19625498.
- ^ a b Maloney, William James (2014-09-22). The Medical Lives of History's Famous People. Bentham Science Publishers. ISBN 9781608059362.
- ^ Wang, Zhe; Cao, Feng; Liu, Diangang; Fang, Yu; Li, Fei (2016-11-22). "The diagnosis and treatment of Rapunzel syndrome". Acta Radiologica Open. 5 (11): 205846011562766. doi:10.1177/2058460115627660. ISSN 2058-4601. PMC 5122172. PMID 27900201.
- ^ a b Wang, Zhe; Cao, Feng; Liu, Diangang; Fang, Yu; Li, Fei (2016-11-22). "The diagnosis and treatment of Rapunzel syndrome". Acta Radiologica Open. 5 (11): 205846011562766. doi:10.1177/2058460115627660. PMC 5122172. PMID 27900201.
- ^ Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5 (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Association. 2013. ISBN 978-0-89042-554-1. OCLC 830807378.
- ^ Gorter RR, Kneepkens CM, Mattens EC, Aronson DC, Heij HA (May 2010). "Management of trichobezoar: case report and literature review". Pediatr. Surg. Int. 26 (5): 457–63. doi:10.1007/s00383-010-2570-0. PMC 2856853. PMID 20213124.
Further reading
edit- Duncan ND, Aitken R, Venugopal S, West W, Carpenter R (June 1994). "The Rapunzel syndrome. Report of a case and review of the literature". West Indian Med J. 43 (2): 63–5. PMID 7941500.
- Levy RM, Komanduri S (November 2007). "Images in clinical medicine. Trichobezoar". N. Engl. J. Med. 357 (21): e23. doi:10.1056/NEJMicm067796. PMID 18032760.
- Matejů E, Duchanová S, Kovac P, Moravanský N, Spitz DJ (September 2009). "Fatal case of Rapunzel syndrome in neglected child". Forensic Sci. Int. 190 (1–3): e5–7. doi:10.1016/j.forsciint.2009.05.008. PMID 19505779.
- Pul N, Pul M (1996). "The Rapunzel syndrome (trichobezoar) causing gastric perforation in a child: a case report". Eur. J. Pediatr. 155 (1): 18–9. doi:10.1007/bf02115620. PMID 8750804. S2CID 20876626.