Recurrent gastric trichobezoar in a child

DOI: 10.1590/S1679-45082015AI3079 A 9-year-old girl with adequate growth and psychomotor development for her age was referred to our emergency service in March 2012 due to epigastralgia, postprandial vomiting, which started 2 days earlier, and a solid mobile epigastric mass of hard consistency. The patient had a history of trichophagia and, 2 years before she had been submitted to a laparotomy for removal of a large gastric trichobezoar. The upper gastrointestinal endoscopy confirmed the diagnosis of gastric trichobezoar. An anterior laparotomy was performed and a solid mass of hair of 12cm x 6cm x 4cm was removed. These dimensions were similar to those of the gastric trichobezoar removed 2 years earlier (Figure 1), in addition it presented a small tail of hair extending up to the duodenum (Figure 2). We referred the patient to a pediatric psychiatry consultation and so far she has Figure 2. Recurrent gastric trichobezoar confirmed by upper gastrointestinal endoscopy Figure 1. Gastric trichobezoar removed after the first laparotomy