Gastrointestinal Trichobezoar: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

We report a case of gastrointestinal trichobezoar in an 18-year-old girl who presented to the surgical out-patient clinic with a painless palpable lump in her epigastrium. The patient was fit and healthy otherwise without any gastrointestinal symptoms and her past medical history was non-contributing. Our case is the second reported case of trichobezoar in the literature in a healthy young woman without any history of psychiatric disorder or gastric surgery. She was investigated with a barium swallow and CT scan followed by endoscopy which confirmed the diagnosis of a gastrointestinal trichobezoar extending up to the distal ileum. She underwent gastrotomy and the trichobezoar was removed. The patient was referred to the psychiatry team for further assessment. There was no recurrence after a period of follow-up for 2 years. The mode of presentation and the appearance on ultrasound and CT scan are discussed.