At the age of 77, singer Gal Costa died last Wednesday (09). Although the hospital where Gal was admitted has not disclosed the cause of death, it is known that the singer faced some health problems in recent months. Recently, she underwent surgery to remove a nodule in her nasal fossa, which kept her off the stage since September.nodule, as well as its diagnosis and treatment.

Read more: Nose cancer: after all,what are the symptoms and how to make the diagnosis?

What is a nodule in the nasal fossa?

According to Dr. Fernando Bevilacqua, otorhinolaryngologist, some malformations can appear in the nose right at birth. Others, however, can be acquired throughout life. This is the case of the nodule in the nasal fossa.

"The nodule is a small, rounded lesion. It is a type of cancer caused by an increase in cells that have grown," he explains.

Risks of Surgery

Still according to the doctor, the main risk is bleeding, especially if it is near the large blood vessels that exist in the nose. Another risk is infection, which can even cause meningitis.

Thus, Gal Costa's death, the doctor points out, may have been due to the nodule in the nasal fossa." I can't specify if the death could have been a consequence of the surgical procedure. Eventually, if she had a big bleed, it could have been the cause. It could also be a late complication of the surgical procedure, since there are some complications related to infectious inflammatory processes that go into the bloodstream. Every surgical procedure hasrisks," says the expert.

Symptoms

Although unlikely to cause death, the nodule in the nasal fossa can obstruct breathing, which in the case of a professional singer like Gal Costa is a problem and can even cause changes in the timbre of her voice. See other symptoms:

• Obstruction of the nose
• Nosebleeds
• Runny nose, causing a lot of secretion
• Pain in the face
• Odor inside the nose
• Change in olfaction

Diagnosis of a nodule in the nasal fossa

First, Dr. Fernando points out, a physical exam is done: "We open the nasal spectrum and observe. If there is any alteration or doubt, I use a procedure that is fast, that doesn't hurt, but that bothers a little, which is the nasofibroscopy It's a camera that we pass inside the nose, so that we can objectively verify if there is any lesion", explains the doctor.

However, in patients without lesion, but with symptoms, imaging exams are necessary: "Usually, we start with the tomography of the face, because it brings the relations of the soft tissues with the bone", explains Dr. Fernando. If the images show some kind of lesion, a surgical procedure may be necessary - as it was done with Gal Costa - or complementary exams, such as MRImagnetic.

Sources:

• Dr. Fernão Bevilacqua, Otorhinolaryngologist of the Albert Sabin Hospital of SP (HAS) and member of the Brazilian Society of Otorhinolaryngology and the Brazilian Academy of Audiology APM CFM. CRM 143.759