According to a case study published in the National Library of Medicine on May 31, 2025, a 44-year-old Tanzanian man, described as “otherwise healthy,” sought medical attention after his right nipple began leaking pus.
An X-ray revealed a knife lodged in his chest from an attack that had occurred eight years earlier. Remarkably, the man reported no chest pain, breathing difficulties, cough, or fever despite living with the foreign object for nearly a decade.
The patient recalled being involved in a violent altercation 8 years prior, during which he sustained multiple cuts to his face, back, chest, and abdomen.
Following the incident, he received first aid at a primary health facility where his wounds were sutured. However, no radiological investigation was conducted at that time as the bleeding had stopped, and there were no facilities available for such examinations in the resource-limited setting.
According to the medical report, doctors performed a right thoracotomy and successfully removed the foreign body.
The patient experienced an uncomplicated postoperative recovery.
This case highlights the importance of proper medical care and follow-up treatment, especially illustrating how in low-resource areas, access to medical care may be limited, leading to delayed diagnosis and treatment of potentially serious conditions.
