Adrián Espino, 23, was left suicidal by the growth, which developed from a small 'bruise' on his cheek at six-years-old. This growth was so hard it needed a 'hammer and chisel' to remove.
His parents, Adrián Snr and Maria, were told by doctors there was 'no cure' for his diagnosed condition - fibrous dysplasia - and his tumor would grow for as long as he did. Fibrous dysplasia (FD) is a rare bony disorder in which normal bone is replaced by abnormal fibro-osseous tissue. It often involves the long bones, craniofacial bones, ribs, and pelvis. Approximately 30% of monostotic FD lesions are found in the cranial or facial bones.
Although it is a non-malignant condition, it can cause severe bone deformity and result in pathologic fractures.
Mr. Espino's airways had become so restricted by the growth that his life was under threat if it continued to impair his eating and breathing. When he was six years old, his mother, Maria Espino, noticed a 'bruise' on her son's cheek. He was taken to the hospital and was diagnosed with polyostotic fibrous dysplasia.
It is a Polyostotic condition, although it is not clear if Mr. Espino is affected anywhere else. .Several attempts to try and stem the growth were unsuccessful and Mr Espino's tumor only got bigger as he aged.
Mr. Espino, who studies engineering, said: 'I thought a lot about killing myself. I fell into a huge depression. I locked myself inside my .bubble. But there were always two things I had in mind. I thought about my family and about my own pride. I didn't want to let go. I've always seen the bright side of life. Who hasn't felt lonely sometimes even with so much life around them?'
Mr. Espino added: 'I breathe through my nose but lately I can't because this is pushing on the left side. It also makes it very difficult to see with my right eye. Actually, I can barely see it's all blurred. It's uncomfortable. My teeth this side don't line up which means I cannot chew food properly.'
The fibrous bone was removed in chunks, and Dr. Andrade was able to remove the section blocking Mr. Espino's mouth and nose. In total, the tumor weighed 6.6lbs (3.3kg). There have been three months to the surgery and he is recovering considerably well but he still needs reconstruction surgery.
Sufficient knowledge of FD is essential to make an appropriate diagnosis and reduce the complications of the disease. With improvements in medicine and molecular technology, better therapy for FD, such as genetic therapy, may be possible in the near future.
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[1]International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Recommendations for the Conduct, Reporting, Editing, and Publication of Scholarly Work in Medical Journals ICMJE Recommendations. 2025. Available at: source
[2]EQUATOR Network. Reporting Guidelines for Main Study Types EQUATOR Network. Available at: source
Dr. Rockson Samuel is a dental surgeon, healthcare content strategist, and Founder and Chief Dentist of Indira Dental Clinic in Vellore, Tamil Nadu. He provides comprehensive general and family dental care with professional interests in endodontics, implant dentistry, clear aligner therapy, digital dentistry, preventive care and patient education. A graduate of K.G.F. College of Dental Sciences and Hospital under Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, he also has formal training in management and digital marketing. As Community Leader at DentalReach, he contributes to dental publishing, professional education, international media partnerships and the development of evidence-informed resources for dentists.
