In a mind-boggling medical case from India, a man developed a massive horn-like structure on top of his head, which had to be surgically removed after years of growth.
Back in 2014, Shyam Lal Yadav suffered a head injury and soon noticed a bizarre growth emerging from his scalp.
At first, it wasn’t a big deal. Shyam even had his barber trim it down regularly since it didn’t bother him much.
However, as time passed, the 74-year-old from Madhya Pradesh realized the growth was hardening and transforming into something that resembled a horn.
That was the last straw for Shyam, prompting him to consult with medical professionals about his unusual predicament.
What Shyam was dealing with turned out to be a sebaceous horn, which is essentially a growth made of compacted keratin—the same material that makes up our hair, nails, and skin.
Keratin is quite common in the animal kingdom, found in the beaks and feathers of birds, and in the actual horns of animals like rhinoceroses.
The exact causes of these horn-like growths in humans remain a mystery, but they typically affect older individuals and are more likely to develop in sun-exposed areas like the head or shoulders.
The condition caught the attention of Dr. Vishal Gajbhiye at Bhagyoday Tirth Hospital in Sagar, who took on the case.
Dr. Gajbhiye shared, “Around five years ago the patient had hurt his head after which a lump started growing. Initially, he ignored it as it did not cause any discomfort. Also, he got the growth cut by the local barber. But, when the lump hardened and started growing further, he approached the hospital at Sagar. In medical term, this type of rare growth is called sebaceous horn (devil’s horn).”
Although typically removable with a simple sterile razor due to its keratin composition, the underlying conditions causing the growth still require treatment,” Dr. Gajbhiye added.