In a rare medical discovery, a 23-year-old man from northern China, identified as Xiaoma, found out that a dice had been lodged in his nasal cavity for over two decades. The unusual obstruction had been causing him persistent sneezing and a runny nose.
Xiaoma had been battling chronic nasal issues for a month when he decided to seek medical help at Xian Gaoxin Hospital. This step came after traditional Chinese remedies failed to alleviate his symptoms. Initially, doctors suspected he was suffering from allergic rhinitis. However, a detailed nasal endoscopy revealed an unexpected cause – a foreign object embedded deep within his nasal passage.
Dr. Yang Rong, an otolaryngologist at the hospital, shared insights about the case, stating, “The nasal endoscopy uncovered a white lump covered in secretions. Upon careful extraction, we identified it as a two-centimeter dice, partially corroded from its long presence in the nasal cavity. It was lodged in the lower nasal passage and had caused notable damage to the nasal mucosa.”
The dice, estimated to have entered Xiaoma’s nose when he was about three or four years old, had gone unnoticed for years. Xiaoma recalled no specific incident from his childhood that might explain how the object ended up in his nose.
Fortunately, the dice was successfully removed through surgery, providing Xiaoma with immediate relief from his symptoms. The case highlights the potential for foreign objects to remain undetected in the human body for extended periods and the importance of thorough medical examinations for unresolved health issues.
