A 23-year-old woman with history of eating disorder, complains of vomiting, nausea & severe abdominal pain. Physical examination shows abdominal distension and constipation. An X-ray film of the abdomen reveals air-fluid levels and a hyperlucent shadow at the epigastric area. The material obstructing the gastrointestinal tract is removed surgically and shown. Which of the following is the most likely diagnosis?
High-Yield Explanation
- Given image shows hairball with gelatinous matrix, which point towards diagnosis of Trichobezoar - Bezoars are foreign bodies in stomach that are composed of food/ hair that have been altered by digestive process. - Trichobezoar is usually seen in long-haired girls/ young women who eat their own hair as a nervous habit (trichotillomania; also called "Rapunzel" syndrome). - Phytobezoars (choice C) are concretions of plant material, which usually occur in persons with conditions that interfere with gastric emptying.