Surgeons Remove Four-Inch 'Devil Horn' From Farmer's Head

Surgeons in India have removed a 'devil horn' from a farmer's head - and I don't about you, but it gives me the shivers.

Shyam Lal Yadav, from Rahli village in Madhya Pradesh, said the creepy lump began to emerge around five years ago after he bumped his head.

SWNS

Initially, he got his barber to cut it back, but it started to get hard and continued to grow, prompting the 74-year-old to seek medical assistance.

Neurosurgeons at Bhagyoday Tirth Hospital in Sagar city confirmed it was a sebaceous horn - or devil's horn, as it is sometimes quite harshly but understandably known.

The horn is comprised of keratin, which is found in nails and hair, and the cause isn't well understood, though it has been linked with exposure to radiation or sunlight.

After performing a CT scan, doctors determined the best course of action would be to lop it off with a razor.

Surgeon Dr Vishal Gajbhiye said: "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 terms, this type of rare growth is called sebaceous horn (devil's horn). As the horn is composed of keratin, the same material found in fingernails, the horn can usually be removed with a sterile razor."

SWNS

But the removal of the horn wasn't the end of the road for Mr Yadav.

Dr Gajbhiye said: "The underlying condition will still need to be treated.

"The sebaceous horns are predominantly benign lesions however the possibility of malignant potential should always be kept in mind. Treatments vary, but they can include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

"Immediately after its removal, skin was grafted on the wound which has now healed completely."

Mr Yadav spent 10 days in hospital after being de-horned and a biopsy of the growth confirmed it as harmless.

So it looks like Mr Yadav has happily come out of this relatively unscathed, though he may find he has a decreased libido now, you know, 'cause he's not horny anymore... Come on guys, just having a bit of fun. Hopefully Mr Yadav can have a chuckle about the thing now it's been safely removed.

Anyway, if you're scared that a bit too much sunlight might transform you into a unicorn, then comfort yourself that such horns are very rare, hence why Mr Yadav's case has been submitted to the International Journal of Surgery.

Topics: World News, Weird, India

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey