# Trusting your gut: a hairy situation—gastric trichobezoar case report

## TL;DR

A 7-year-old girl with abdominal pain and weight loss was diagnosed with a rare hair mass in her stomach, highlighting the need for careful diagnosis in similar cases.

## Contribution

This case report highlights gastric trichobezoar as a rare but important differential diagnosis in pediatric patients with nonspecific abdominal symptoms.

## Key findings

- A gastric trichobezoar was identified in a 7-year-old girl with abdominal pain and weight loss.
- Initial imaging failed to diagnose the condition, requiring esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD).
- Trichobezoars should be considered in pediatric patients, especially females, with nonspecific gastrointestinal symptoms.

## Abstract

Trichobezoars are rare masses made from ingested hair that are commonly seen in young females. We report a case of a 7-year-old girl who presented with generalized abdominal pain and rapid weight loss. Initial evaluation with radiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and upper gastrointestinal series (UGI) suggested superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome but failed to provide a definitive diagnosis. A gastric trichobezoar was ultimately identified on esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD). While uncommon, trichobezoars should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pediatric patients, especially females presenting with nonspecific symptoms. Without obvious alopecia or a known psychiatric history, diagnosis is often delayed due to symptoms overlapping with other conditions, and EGD evaluation should be considered.