Man Lived for 20 Years With a Tumor Growing to Three Pounds on His Face Before It Was Removed

(Photo : Unsplash / Enis Yavuz)

Living with a bump on one's face could cause extreme discomfort on top of the physical disfiguration, but what if it was actually a tumor that grew as heavy as three pounds? This happened to an Italian man who lived with the tumor for twenty years until it grew to that weight.

Three-Pound Face Tumor

According to News Week, after nearly 20 years of growth, Angelo had a three-pound tumor removed from his face with a life-changing operation. While initially unnoticeable, he slowly experienced its growth on his face.

Angelo was 38 years old when the tumor was finally removed; this was already after years of pain and discomfort as the tumor had grown to three pounds. For reference, GW Osteopathy reports that a human head weighs around 11 pounds.

The tumor had grown to the point that it greatly affected his oral cavity, mouth, and jaw. This resulted in difficulties in eating, breathing, and swallowing.

News Week reports how Angelo underwent surgery at the Galeazzi - Sant'Ambrogio Hospital, which described the surgery as "absolutely essential." The official term to describe Angelo's condition is called ameloblastoma.

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Ameloblastoma Explained

Ameloblastoma is described as a tumor that's non-cancerous or benign that builds up mostly on a person's jaw bone. This type of tumor is rare and often comes from cells forming during protective teeth enamel lining.

The National Library of Medicine says this tumor could come from tooth germ's residual epithelium. Other potential causes include enamel organ epitheliums and odontogenic cysts stratified squamous epithelium.

The frequency of ameloblastoma happening in oral tumors was estimated at just 1%, with only 20% found in the upper jaw. The report notes that 80% of ameloblastomas happen mostly in the third molar region.

News Week reports that despite most ameloblastomas being benign, they are aggressive most of the time. In rare cases, the tumors can spread to other body parts if they become metastatic.

Surgery for Ameloblastoma

Alessandro Baj, a doctor involved in Angelo's surgery who's from the maxillofacial surgery unit, described the tumor as being asymptomatic during the illness's beginning. Due to the complication of the surgery, careful planning was required.

Before the process, a computerized tomography (CT) scan was first administered to the patient to get images. These images were used to construct a 3D model of Angelo's skull.

This model was then used for the medical team to create a virtual simulation of their supposed procedure. Through the help of 3D printing, the team designed the custom components needed.

News Week reports that the team made custom plates, guides, and screws for the surgery. The operation lasted eight hours, and to reconstruct Angelo's face after removing the tumor, the team had to use part of his lower leg's fibula bone.