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A case of rhinolithiasis in Botswana: a mineralogical, microscopic and chemical study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 March 2006

Bernard W. Vink ,
Piet van Hasselt  and
Richard Wormald
Bernard W. Vink
Affiliation:
Geology Department, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.
Piet van Hasselt
Affiliation:
ENT Department, Bamalete Lutheran Hospital, Ramotswa, Botswana.
Richard Wormald
Affiliation:
Geology Department, University of Botswana, Gaborone, Botswana.
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Abstract

A case of rhinolithiasis in Southeast Botswana was treated and after removal in hospital, the rhinolith was subjected to macroscopic and microscopic examination, X-ray diffraction analysis, electron microscope analysis and partial botanical analysis.

The rhinolith consists of a strongly elliptical core of calcium stearate (C36H70CaO4.H2O), surrounded by approximately 30 elongated concentric growth rings, consisting of sodium-containing whitlockite (Ca18Mg2(Na,H)(PO4)14). The different layers have various degrees of porosity and red staining, probably due to traces of amorphous iron oxide. The origin of the rhinolith started with a piece of plant material, lodged in the nose, which was replaced by calcium stearate, leaving some remnants of resistant epidermal plant tissue. During subsequent years, thin layers of whitlockite were deposited periodically around the core with the reddish brown bands representingdeposition during the dry season when atmospheric dust rich in amorphous iron oxide is at its highest in Botswana.

Keywords

NoseForeign BodyMineral Fibres
Type
Research Article
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 116 , Issue 12 , December 2002 , pp. 1036 - 1040
Copyright
© Royal Society of Medicine Press Limited 2002

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