MediAI

Trichobezoar and Rapunzel Syndrome: The Hidden Cause of Abdominal Pain Every Radiologist Must Recognize Introduction Emergency departments frequently encounter adolescents presenting with abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. While appendicitis, inflammatory bowel disease, bowel obstruction, and ovarian pathology are common considerations, rare entities such as trichobezoar remain important diagnostic possibilities. A trichobezoar is a compact mass of ingested hair that accumulates within the stomach and occasionally extends into the duodenum and small bowel. When the hair mass extends beyond the pylorus into the small intestine, the condition is commonly referred to as Rapunzel syndrome. Although uncommon, delayed diagnosis can result in gastric outlet obstruction, bowel perforation, malnutrition, intussusception, and even death. Consequently, radiologists play a pivotal role in early identification. The present case involves a 17-year-old female with autism and trichotil...

  Fulminant Clostridioides difficile Enteritis: A Rare Postoperative Catastrophe Every Radiologist Should Recognize Introduction When clinicians think about Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI), the colon is usually considered the primary target organ. However, an increasingly recognized yet frequently overlooked manifestation is Clostridioides difficile enteritis involving the small bowel. Although rare, this disease carries substantial morbidity and mortality. Published literature suggests mortality rates approaching 30% in reported cases. Patients with previous total colectomy represent a particularly vulnerable population. The case presented in the accompanying article highlights a 74-year-old woman who developed fulminant C. difficile enteritis following ileostomy reversal after previous total colectomy. Her clinical deterioration was dramatic, progressing rapidly to shock physiology and requiring emergency intervention. Fortunately, prompt diagnosis and treatment resulted...