title: Rock, paper, endoscopy: a baffling case of rhinolith.
abstract: A 60-year-old woman presented with a bulky nasal mass. The mass was accidentally discovered during examination following a head injury. The patient, suffering from severe mental retardation, did not complain of any nasal symptoms, though her relatives, upon direct questioning, reported a two year history of fetid rhinorrhoea and occasional epistaxis. The CT scan showed a large inhomogeneous calcified mass in left nasal cavity, impacted on the choanal border. The patient underwent endoscopic nasal surgery under general anaesthesia in order to remove the mass. A transnasal approach granted a successful and complete removal. The patient was discharged the following day without any complication and no sign of recurrence or symptoms relapse was reported during a two year follow-up.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, San Paolo Hospital, University of Milan, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto Maria
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Saibene
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bebi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Borloni
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Felisati
mesh_terms: D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004724:Endoscopy; D004844:Epistaxis / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005547:Foreign Bodies / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009668:Nose Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000601:surgery*; D010209:Paper; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed