A 15-year-old boy in the United States emitted a foul odor every time he blew his nose. Treating physicians from San Antonio discovered a 9 mm caliber bullet blocking one nasal cavity, which had calcified over time.
In the realm of unusual medical cases, consider the Indian man who had a 2 kg brain tumor removed in 2018, or the 92-year-old Chilean woman who in 2015 discovered a mummified fetus in her womb after over 50 years. Reported on February 18, 2021, in JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery, U.S. doctors detailed a teenager's nasal congestion that concealed something far more extraordinary.
The 15-year-old presented with bilateral nasal stuffiness, loss of smell, breathing difficulties, and visual disturbances. Suspecting seasonal allergies, clinicians prescribed antihistamines and nasal steroid spray.
A year later, he returned as symptoms persisted and worsened. Blowing his nose now triggered intense discomfort from a pungent, nauseating odor.
Clinicians performed nasal endoscopy, which initially showed no abnormalities. Further investigation revealed a 9 mm diameter bullet in the left inferior nasal cavity. Over time, it had calcified, obstructing natural drainage and trapping debris, bacteria, and mucus—the source of the foul smell.
Using nasal endoscopy, doctors removed the calcified bullet and aspirated surrounding tissues. A decongestant was administered, causing minor nosebleeds. Remarkably, the patient recovered well despite the bullet being present for years—he recalled being shot in the nose with a pellet gun at age 8 or 9.
