A 72-year-old man who had been struggling with a persistent cough and repeated chest infections was feared to have a tumour in his lung. But when doctors examined the suspicious growth, they found a human tooth lodged deep inside his airway, apparently for nearly three years.
He also reported no significant weight loss, fever, night sweats or coughing up blood. The man’s symptoms improved after the procedure, and a follow-up examination confirmed that the airway had reopened. The man had experienced several months of coughing up phlegm and recurring lower respiratory tract infections, which had repeatedly been treated with antibiotics. He had cardiovascular disease but no known history of cancer. The researchers believe the tooth entered his airway during that episode and remained there unnoticed, triggering chronic irritation and recurrent infections. They also noted that a dense spot visible on the original CT scan, consistent with the tooth, had initially been overlooked. Tests on the removed tissue showed inflammation but no evidence of cancer. Researchers highlighted how inhaled foreign objects can remain undetected in adults for years, sometimes producing growths that closely resemble tumours.
