Untreated trichotillomania and trichophagia: surgical emergency in a teenage girl.

Trichophagia secondary to trichotillomania can be a potentially life-threatening condition if left untreated. This report documents the unique case of a 16-year-old girl whose untreated trichotillomania led to a trichobezoar requiring surgical intervention and follow-up psychiatric treatment. Challenges in the identification and treatment of the disorder and its complications are discussed as well as the importance of early and accurate diagnosis.