Rapunzel syndrome

Rapunzel syndrome is an extremely rare intestinal condition in humans resulting from ingesting hair, which is often associated with the hair-pulling disorder trichotillomania. This syndrome occurs when a hairball, called a trichobezoar, extends in the form of a slim, tail-like segment past the small intestine, potentially reaching as far as the colon. The syndrome is named after the long-haired girl Rapunzel in the fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. Since 1968, there have been fewer than 40 documented cases in the medical literature.