Surgical intervention solves mystery of 2-year cough for man who thought he was suffering from cancer. — SCMP
A man in China who had been coughing for more than two years and feared he had lung cancer was relieved to discover that the cause was a chilli pepper he had choked on during a hotpot meal.
The 54-year-old, surnamed Xu, from Zhejiang province in eastern China, had been taking over-the-counter medication for a persistent cough but saw no improvement.
In late June, concerned about his condition, he sought professional help at the Thoracic Surgery Department at Zhejiang Hospital.
A scan revealed a 1cm mass in his lung and led to fears of pneumonia or a malignant tumour.
A pre-surgery examination confirmed a growth in his right lung, heightening his lung cancer concerns.
Anxious and braced for the worst, Xu was taken into the operating room for surgery on July 3.
Luo Jing, a thoracic surgeon at Zhejiang Hospital, explained that the operation was initially intended to obtain a lung tissue sample to determine the nature of the mass.
However, doctors were surprised to find a foreign object, which turned out to be the tip of a chilli pepper.
Xu recalled an incident two years before when he had choked and coughed severely while eating hotpot, possibly inhaling a chilli.
Zhu Xinhai, Director of the Thoracic Surgery Department at Zhejiang Hospital, said the chilli pepper could have travelled into his lung through his airway.
The foreign object caused an enlarged lymph in his right lung, and was “hidden” under the tissue, making it difficult to detect with normal examination methods.
Ye Jian, Director of the Respiratory Medicine Department at the hospital, said they often find foreign objects inside patients, such as animal bones, earrings and even dentures.
Xu’s case shocked and entertained many people on mainland social media.
“It’s really impressive that he was able to endure the coughing for two years before going to hospital. He’s truly a master,” said one person.
“This man must be thrilled to learn he does not have cancer. This is truly the best outcome a patient could hope for,” another said. – South China Morning Post
