Woman grows a nose on her spine after stem cell treatment

A female patient has grown a nose on her back after a failed experimental stem cell treatment that was intended to cure her paralysis. The nose-like growth was producing a “thick mucus-like material”, and has recently been removed as it was pressing painfully on her spine. Olfactory stem cells were taken from the patient’s nose eight years ago and implanted into her spine. The stem cells were meant to turn into nerve cells that would help repair the woman’s spine, curing her paralysis. Instead, the stem cells decided to build a nose. Surgeons removed the 3-centimeter long growth, which was found to be mostly nasal tissues, as well as bits of bones and tiny nerve branches that had not yet connected with the spinal nerves. For more information on stem cell therapy, what went wrong, and medical advances, visit Extreme Tech at http://www.extremetech.com/extreme/185959-woman-grows-a-nose-on-her-spine-after-experimental-stem-cell-treatment-goes-awry