Can you imagine suddenly growing a “horn” on your head? It sounds like something out of a fantasy story, right? But this is a real occurrence that happened to a man in India named Shyam Lal Yadav. His case created quite a stir and gained attention in the medical world due to its extreme rarity!
The story begins around 2014. Mr. Shyam Lal Yadav, who was elderly at the time, had an accidental bump to his head. Following this, a small lump appeared in the affected area.
Initially, the lump wasn’t given much thought. Perhaps it was dismissed as a simple bump from the injury. For years, whenever the lump started to grow longer, his regular barber would simply trim it, much like cutting hair.
But strangely, the lump did not stop growing. Despite being frequently trimmed, it would reappear repeatedly. Over time, its growth became more aggressive and its shape grew increasingly unusual.
The lump continued to protrude from Mr. Shyam Lal Yadav’s head, eventually reaching a length of approximately 10 cm. From circulating photos, its appearance was remarkably similar to a horn.
Imagine having a horn of that length on your head. It must have been incredibly uncomfortable, not to mention visually striking. It likely also made daily activities, or even just sleeping, difficult.
Finally, after years of enduring it and attempting various self-treatments (including the barber’s trimmings), Mr. Shyam Lal Yadav decided to seek medical assistance. The condition had become too unmanageable.
He presented at a hospital, where the doctors were astonished by this rare condition. Neurosurgeons at Bhagyoday Tirth Hospital in Sagar ultimately took on Mr. Shyam Lal Yadav’s case.
Medically, the growth experienced by Mr. Shyam Lal Yadav is known as a cutaneous horn, also often referred to as a sebaceous horn. Simply put, it’s a ‘skin horn’.
These horns are formed from keratin, the very same protein that constitutes our hair and nails. Therefore, this horn is essentially like a nail or hair growing in an inappropriate location, becoming elongated and hardened.
According to Dr. Vishal Gajbhiye, one of the surgeons who treated him, the patient did indeed bump his head approximately 5 years before the operation, after which the lump began to grow. He also explained that sebaceous horns are often nicknamed ‘devil’s horns’ due to their unusual appearance.
Since it’s made of keratin, the protruding ‘horn’ could technically be trimmed with a sterile razor. However, that only removes the outer part. To prevent regrowth, the underlying cause must be addressed.
The doctors explained that sebaceous horns are mostly benign, meaning non-cancerous. However, there is a small possibility of them becoming malignant, necessitating further examination.
Treatment options vary and can include surgery (as in Mr. Shyam’s case), radiation therapy, or even chemotherapy, depending on the specific condition and any potential for malignancy.
After examination and preparation, Mr. Shyam Lal Yadav underwent surgery to remove the ‘horn’ from his head. The operation was successful. Following the removal, a skin graft was immediately performed on the area to close the wound.
Mr. Shyam spent approximately 10 days in the hospital for post-operative recovery. The results were reassuring; a biopsy and tissue examination of the horn confirmed that the growth was indeed benign and not harmful.
Because this case is exceptionally rare, particularly given its appearance following an injury and its significant size, the details of Mr. Shyam Lal Yadav’s case were submitted to an international medical journal (International Journal of Surgery) for further study by medical professionals globally.
Thus, Mr. Shyam Lal Yadav’s story is genuinely true and stands as one of the rare medical cases that captured significant attention.
It also serves as a vital reminder for us: if you notice an unusual lump or abnormal growth on your body, especially one that continues to enlarge, do not ignore it or attempt to treat it yourself. Seek medical attention promptly to determine the cause and receive appropriate treatment.
Hopefully, this story has been insightful. It truly is remarkable how the human body can manifest such surprising conditions.
