The unbelievable reason for a man's brutal sinus infection
A Sydney man who had struggled with sinus issues for years made an unexpected discovery in his CAT scan.
In a case published by the British Medical Journal, a 48-year-old man sought help at Westmead Hospital in the city’s west for his constant headaches and sinus problems.
A CAT scan revealed that he had a 1.9cm by 1.1cm lesion in his right nostril, where a “firm grey mass” laid.
After the item was removed, it was found to be a “rubber capsule containing degenerate vegetable/plant matter” that turned out to be cannabis, BMJ reported.
The man said the drug was shoved up his nose 18 years ago when he was in jail in an attempt to avoid detection. Despite smuggling the cannabis past guards, he could not retrieve the package afterwards.
According to BMJ, the man had been having nasal issues for years after the smuggling. Following the removal of the package, the man no longer experienced any nasal problems.
The Sydney man’s case is an example of rhinolith, a medical phenomenon where a stone formed in the nasal cavity. The stone could be brought on by endogenous matter – such as mucus or dislodged tooth – as well as exogenous objects like seed, bead, a paper piece and more.