Over the next two decades the balloon developed into a rhinolith, a stone in the nasal cavity formed as calcium and magnesium salts slowly built up around the rubber.
This caused the patient regular sinus infections and frequent complaints about nasal obstructions, but it wasn’t until these developed into painful headaches that he sought treatment.
Investigating the mysterious cause of the man’s headaches, his doctors performed a CT scan and discovered a “rubber capsule containing degenerate vegetable/plant matter” which was then surgically removed.
Three months after the surgery, the patient reported that all of his symptoms had disappeared.
