Armpit Lump: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
My 'sinus Infection' Turned Out To Be A One In A Million Nasal Cancer At Just 28 - And Doctors Had To Cut My Eye Out To Save Me
A 28 year-old California woman has described the shock of being diagnosed with a deadly sinus cancer that affects fewer than one in a million people - and led to the removal of her right eye.
The 'golf ball-sized tumor', which had spread throughout her face, was first mistaken for a sinus infection by the woman's doctors.
Annika, who posts about her condition on TikTok, woke up one morning in 2023 and noticed that the inner corner of her right eye was sore.
While she at first thought nothing of it, by the time the evening rolled around, 'my face started to really, really hurt on the right side,' she said in a video.
The next day, her face swelled around her right eye, prompting her to seek medical attention.
Annika, 28, was diagnosed with a rare nasal cancer after doctors mistook it for a sinus infection. She initially went to the hospital with swelling around her eye
Annika was diagnosed with stage four sinonasal carcinoma SMARCB1 (INI-deficient), which had spread to her face, lungs, and lymph nodes
A CT scan in the emergency room showed inflammation around Annika's eye, leading doctors to suspect she had a sinus infection. The swelling reduced over a few days, only for it to return about a week later.
During Annika's second visit to the emergency room, 'the doctor felt my eye and he was like, "This doesn't feel like a sinus infection."'
This time, a CT scan revealed a mass 'about the size of a golf ball,' which 'wasn't there three weeks ago.'
At just 27, Annika was diagnosed with stage four sinonasal carcinoma SMARCB1, which had spread to her face, lungs, and lymph nodes.
Sinonasal cancers begin in the nasal cavity, which is just behind and around the sides of the nose. Several forms of cancer can grow there, but SMARCB1 is considered to be extremely rare.
According to research from the NIH, fewer than 200 cases have been reported in medical literature. The study also noted that it makes up just one percent of all head and neck cancers.
Much is still unknown about the prognosis, but the NIH states that most patients survive just two to four years after diagnosis, and 'later stage tumors are associated with a worse prognosis.'
Symptoms include nasal obstructions, headaches, protrusion of the eyeball, and nosebleeds.
Annika said that she started chemo 'almost immediately,' which lasted for nine weeks.
However, she saw little improvement and went in for surgery in December 2023.
'They also had to take surrounding tissue, which included my right eye,' she said in another TikTok video.
'So what you see now is essentially a piece of my thigh kind of filling that gap.'
'I have been told that it will kind of go down, but it's also a different color because my thigh was a lot tanner.'
Annika is currently on an experimental treatment plan that includes chemotherapy and immunotherapy to slow the spread of her disease.
Though the statistics are grim, Annika has admitted that she doesn't know what her prognosis looks like.
'I know it's not great,' she said.
'I know when you read about my cancer it's "rare, aggressive, poor prognosis," but no doctor has sat me down and been like "This is how long you have to live."'
When A Runny Nose Is Brain Fluid Leaking: Here Is What To Do
Most cases of runny noses are not from central spinal fluid (CSF) leaks. (Photo: Getty Images)
GettyIt's not snot. It's leaking brain fluid.
That's what Greg Phillpotts learned after suffering from a runny nose for 5 years, as described by Josh Chapin for ABC 11 Eyewitness News. Here's a Tweet from Chapin:
It turned out that Phillpotts was not experiencing constant allergies as he had been told previously. Instead, cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) was leaking out into his nose. CSF is a fluid that surrounds your brain and spinal cord, cushioning, protecting, and supporting those parts of the body. CSF is one of the reason your brain doesn't land with a thud every time you do a jumping jack or listen to Metallica. Normally, the membranes keep the CSF contained, a bit like a big water balloon around your brain and spinal cord. However, anything that may damage the membranes, such as a head injury, surgery, or a tumor, may leave a hole though which the fluid can leak out, potentially into your nose or ear.
Here's a TODAY show segment about another person who had a somewhat similar experience:
As you can see, such a condition can go misdiagnosed for years. That's because "brain fluid leaking" is usually not the first thing you think about when you have a runny nose. Usually, it's a cold, the weather, allergies, cheap cologne, watching too many rom-com movies, or that darn cat. After all, the condition is very rare. However, consider the possibility of a CSF leak if you find the following:
As the Cleveland Clinic describes, your doctor can test for a CSF leak by having you lean forward to see if the drainage increases, using a scope to examine your nasal passages, ordering imaging like a CT or MRI, and testing the fluid to see if it resembles CSF. If a CSF leakage has started recently, your doctor may recommend a more conservative approach, giving the defect time to heal on its own. This means staying in bed for a week or 2 and avoiding movements that may keep the defect from healing coughing, sneezing, straining, or laughing. Therefore, you may want to take stool softeners and limit your television watching to C-SPAN.
If conservative approaches don't resolve the leakage, surgery may be in order. Depending on where the defect is located, your doctor may be able to fix it with using a scope.
You don't want to let a CSF leakage go on without fixing it. As one of the surgeons says on this segment of the television show Botched, "brain fluid coming out of the nose is a major concern":
There are very few sentences with the words "brain" and "coming out of the nose" that should not raise concern. Any defect in the membranes surrounding and protecting the brain and spinal cord can serve as a revolving door for bacteria and other microbes. Such microbes can cause very serious and life-threatening infections such as meningitis. Moreover, CSF leaks can progress to more debilitating symptoms such as severe headaches or be the sign of a more serious problem such as a tumor.
As KidsHealth has pointed out, there's an old joke that says if your nose is running and your feet smell, you must be upside down. Well, if your nose keeps running for weeks or months, see your doctor because something doesn't smell right.
Mumbai Neurosurgeon's Bold Approach Saves Patient From Rare Sinonasal Malignancy With Tumour In Nasal Cavity
The patient initially presented with persistent headaches, nosebleeds, and bulging eyes—a distressing combination of symptoms that signalled a severe underlying condition
Image for representational purpose only. Photo Courtesy: istock
Listen to this articleMumbai neurosurgeon's bold approach saves patient from rare sinonasal malignancy with tumour in nasal cavity
xIn a remarkable medical feat, a team of specialists led by Dr Mazda Turel, neurosurgeon at Wockhardt Hospital and ENT Specialist Dr Nipah, achieved a ground-breaking success in treating a highly unusual case of sinonasal malignancy. This extraordinary case, which involved a 30-year-old male patient Mr Sachin Kesharwani, showcased the power of collaboration and innovation in modern medicine.
The patient initially presented with persistent headaches, nosebleeds, and bulging eyes—a distressing combination of symptoms that signalled a severe underlying condition. An MRI revealed a tumour nestled within the nasal cavity, eroding the base of the skull and infiltrating the brain, leading to the displacement of orbital structures and causing the patient's eyes to protrude.
ADVERTISEMENT Dr. Turel and his multidisciplinary team, including ENT specialist Dr. Neepa Vellimuttam, consultant ENT & Endoscopic Skullbase surgeon, embarked on a comprehensive treatment strategy. The procedure was complex and extensive, requiring meticulous planning and execution. Dr. Nipah skillfully excised the tumor from the nasal cavity, while Dr. Turel performed a delicate cranial surgery to remove the tumor extension into the brain. Further mentioning the details of the surgery, Dr Turel said, "One of the most critical aspects of the surgery was the meticulous repair of the skull base. We utilised a combination of autologous tissue from the patient's thigh, along with synthetic materials, to seal the defect and prevent cerebrospinal fluid leakage—a potential complication that could lead to severe infections." However, on the success of this critical surgery, an elated Turel mentioned, "Following the successful surgery, the patient experienced a remarkable recovery. His debilitating headaches subsided, his vision improved, and the position of his eyes returned to normal, marking a significant milestone in his journey to recovery." However, the joy of this success was tempered by the biopsy results, which revealed the tumor to be a highly malignant sinonasal carcinoma. Despite this setback, the patient's resilience and the unwavering commitment of the medical team remained steadfast. The subsequent course of treatment involved a rigorous regimen of chemotherapy and radiation therapy, aimed at targeting any remaining cancer cells and preventing recurrence. The patient endured numerous sessions of therapy, demonstrating immense courage and determination throughout his ordeal. Dr. Turel emphasized the rarity and complexity of this case, underscoring the unique challenges posed by the intricate connection between the nasal cavity and the brain. Despite the inherent risks, the successful outcome serves as a testament to the expertise and innovation within the medical community. This extraordinary case exemplifies the transformative potential of modern healthcare, where collaboration, cutting-edge technology, and unwavering determination converge to defy the odds and restore hope to those facing life-threatening illnesses.
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