Anyone with trichotillomania — or compulsive hair-pulling — has a tough battle ahead.
For one woman in Pakistan, however, the disorder triggered a rare condition called “Rapunzel syndrome.” But don’t let the name fool you: This condition is anything but a fairy tale.
Doctors removed a hairball measuring 15-by-10 centimeters, which is slightly larger than a grapefruit, from the 38-year-old woman’s stomach, as well as a smaller, tail-shaped clump of hair that had invaded the intestines, according to a new BMJ case report.
The case report details the woman’s symptoms, diagnostic tests and treatment plan, including surgery to remove the hair. The authors, a team of U.S. doctors, also examined 88 Rapunzel syndrome cases in a comprehensive review, according to the case report, which emphasizes the condition’s infrequency. It occurs most commonly in children and adolescents.
Prior to diagnosis, the woman’s symptoms included nausea, sudden vomiting and constipation. Her abdomen was also enlarged because of gas and fluid buildup. Because of these issues, she effortlessly lost 15 pounds over the course of eight months, and her appetite decreased this past year.
Given her declining health, doctors chose to perform surgery to take out the hairballs and sent her home six days later. Since trichotillomania is classified as a mental health issue, she was referred to a psychiatrist and also offered nutritional counseling.
For patients who develop Rapunzel syndrome, abdominal surgery, specifically laparotomy, is the standard treatment, per the case report.
Approximately 1 to 2 percent of adults and adolescents have trichotillomania. Described as an impulse-control disorder, trichotillomania has been featured in popular culture on series like “Grey’s Anatomy” and “My Strange Addiction.”
“With better education of patients and physicians, this disease can be diagnosed early,” case report author Dr. Faiz Anwer told U.S. News in an email. “Before it progresses to the point where patients require surgery, early treatment by involving behavior health professionals is strongly recommended to avoid serious complication.”
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This Woman Needed Surgery to Have Hairballs Removed originally appeared on usnews.com
