Icky: Mighty Trichobezoar
“Trichobezoar,” Ronald M. Levy and Srinadh Komanduri, New England Journal of Medicine, vol. 357, no. 21, November 22, 2007, p. e23 (http://dx.doi.org/ 10.1056/NEJMicm067796). (The authors, at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, report (accompanied by photographic evidence):
A previously healthy 18-year-old woman presented with a 5-month history of pain in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen, abdominal distention, postprandial emesis… Esophagogastroduodenoscopy revealed a large bezoar occluding nearly the entire stomach, without extension into the duodenum. On questioning, the patient stated that she had had a habit of eating her hair for many years — a condition called trichophagia. Owing to the large size of the trichobezoar (37.5 by 17.5 by 17.5 cm), endoscopic removal was not attempted. Laparoscopic removal was attempted; however, conversion to an open procedure was required to completely remove the 4.5-kg trichobezoa
(That’s an excerpt from the article “Icky Cutesy Research Review,” published in AIR 14:3.)