Dr. Yang Haibin, an ENT physician at Waishan Hospital, diagnosed Luo with "sinusitis and deviated nasal septum" and recommended hospitalization for surgery. During a follow-up examination after the surgery, Dr. Yang discovered a pea-sized, porcelain-red colored mass in the left middle section of Luo's nasal passage, which had been obscured by the deviated nasal septum. It was unclear what this mass was. If it were a tumor, it should have been relatively hard, but this mass was very soft, something Dr. Yang, with over twenty years of experience, had never encountered before.
Luo is a farmer who returned to Xiamen from Ningde. A year ago, both his nostrils began experiencing frequent unexplained blockages, accompanied by constant runny nose and occasional headaches. He visited a nearby hospital where he was diagnosed with "rhinitis," and his condition continued to fluctuate. Last Thursday, Luo sought medical attention at the Xiamen Primary School Affiliated Waishan Hospital.
Dr. Yang stated that growths in the nasal cavity develop slowly and are not easily noticeable at first, later causing symptoms such as nasal obstruction and bleeding. To prevent ectopic teeth, one should pay attention to oral hygiene during tooth development, avoid biting hard objects; treat dental or periodontal diseases promptly; and check for any soft lumps around the front teeth. If you notice missing front teeth or symptoms like nasal obstruction and bleeding, you should seek medical attention from an ENT specialist promptly for early detection and treatment.
During the subsequent surgery, Dr. Yang extracted a tooth approximately 2 centimeters long from Luo's nasal cavity. Dr. Yang explained that this tooth grew into the nasal cavity from the maxilla, a condition commonly occurring at the top of the nasal cavity or the maxillary sinus. This mainly happens due to incomplete alignment of the upper front teeth, where the tooth germ tissue shifts to the top of the nasal cavity and develops there. In such cases, patients often miss one front tooth, as it has grown into the nasal cavity, known as an ectopic tooth. There is another condition where an additional tooth germ develops elsewhere and gradually grows, resulting in no missing front teeth, known as supernumerary teeth or extra teeth.
According to reports, 21-year-old Luo frequently experienced nasal congestion and runny nose, assuming it was rhinitis. During a surgery on the 28th, a 2-centimeter-long tooth was unexpectedly found growing in his nasal cavity. The specialist at Xiamen Primary School Affiliated Waishan Hospital explained that this tooth grew from the maxilla into the nasal cavity, classified as a supernumerary tooth, which is relatively rare.
Reported by Nanan Daily journalist Zheng Dixin, Correspondent Guo Zhifeng.