Rapunzel syndrome with cholangitis and pancreatitis – A rare case report

Abstract

AbstractRapunzel syndrome, defined by the presence of a trichobezoar extending from the stomach to the small intestine, is a rare cause of intestinal obstruction. It usually presents with vague symptoms; however, it can also present with complications such as perforation, peritonitis and obstructive jaundice. We report a rare case of a 37-year-old woman with Rapunzel syndrome complicated by acute cholangitis and pancreatitis and analyse the diagnosis and management of this complicated pathology. Although she reported a history of trichotillomania and trichophagia, she had been asymptomatic for ten years. We review the steps of diagnosis, highlighting the importance of a thorough clinical history and detailed examination, with supporting evidence from the contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) scan. She was successfully managed with gastrotomy and trichobezoar removal. She had an uneventful postoperative recovery and was discharged after psychiatric counselling. To our knowledge, this is the first case of Rapunzel syndrome in a young female presenting with both cholangitis and pancreatitis.