For nearly a decade, 42-year-old Michael Thompson suffered from an irritating, relentless itch deep inside his nose. At first, he thought it was allergies. Then, maybe dry air or chronic sinus infections. Over the years, he tried everything—saline sprays, antihistamines, nasal steroids—but the itch only worsened. Eventually, it became unbearable.
Then, one day, after a particularly sleepless night scratching and sneezing, Michael visited a specialist. What doctors discovered would leave them speechless—and launch a bizarre medical investigation.
Michael, a construction worker from Oregon, described the sensation as “like something was crawling up there—but deeper.” Over-the-counter remedies didn’t help, and most doctors dismissed his symptoms as psychosomatic or allergic in nature. Some even suggested it might be a form of OCD or anxiety.
But Michael insisted: “It doesn’t feel normal. Something is in there.”
A Sinus Scope Reveals the Unexpected
Finally, an ENT (ear, nose, and throat specialist) decided to conduct a thorough endoscopic nasal exam using a fiber-optic camera. Within moments, the room went silent.
Tucked deep inside Michael’s left nasal cavity was something foreign—not just an infection or polyp, but a living organism.
What Was It?
At first, the doctors suspected a parasite. But after extracting the growth, they realized it was something even rarer: a fungal mass, also known as a fungal ball (mycetoma). It had been slowly growing for years, feeding on mucus and thriving in the warm, moist environment.
Even more bizarre? Embedded inside the fungal tissue were tiny organic particles—possibly plant matter or spores—that had hardened over time. Some samples even showed signs of mold colonies creating small, root-like filaments within his sinus wall.
How Did It Happen?
Doctors theorized that years ago, Michael may have inhaled a small piece of decaying organic material—like a seed, leaf particle, or mold spore—while working in dusty environments. That particle lodged deep into his sinuses and became a breeding ground for fungal growth. Over time, it caused intense irritation and inflammation without being detected on standard X-rays or exams.
The constant itch was his body’s way of alerting him that something foreign was present. It just took years before the right scan found it.