The man who grows teeth in his throat

A man in eastern China was shocked to discover dozens of tooth-like growths inside his throat after suffering from shortness of breath.

Doctors in Jiangsu Province found hard nodular objects in the shape of tiny teeth along the patient's airway during a check-up, reported the Daily Mail.

The condition, known as Tracheobroncheopathia Osteochondroplastica (TO), is extremely rare as there have been less than 400 cases reported worldwide.

According to Kan Kan News, Mr Zhang, who had been working away from home, started to have difficulties in breathing about half a year ago.

Dr Zhu Xiangping, from Jiangsu Subei People's Hospital, conducted a biopsy for Mr Zhang and found an accumulation of bony and cartilaginous nodules in his trachea.

"The nodules appeared in white and looked like tiny teeth. They were so hard that they could not be removed," said Dr Zhu.

There are less than 400 cases reported around the world. Photo / Kan Kan News

Dr Zhu confirmed to the reporter that Mr Zhang had Tracheobroncheopathia Osteochondroplastica (TO).

The disease was first found by Samuel Wilks, a British physician, in 1857, stated the British Journal of Anaesthesia.

The cause of the disease remains unknown to date, but a case report in the US was said to be related to skin cancer.

Dr Zhu said the lumps were benign.

He also said there were less than 10 cases of Tracheobroncheopathia Osteochondroplastica in China, and less than 400 cases around the world.

The bony nodules grew along the patient's airway up to 10 millimetres (0.39 inches), triggering coughs and blood in mucus.

Mr Zhang's airway was covered with tiny tooth-like nodules that cannot be removed. Photo / Kan Kan News

As the number of nodules increased, the patient will also suffer shortness of breath.

Dr Zhu stated there were only temporary methods to cure Mr Zhang's disease.

"Laser therapy, airway stenting or the use of soft tissue ablation techniques can only relieve the symptoms, but the condition cannot be totally cured," said Dr Zhu.