When Lin Xuefen, 49, from Gansu province, collapsed on the first day of the Lunar New Year and went into a coma, her sudden illness was a mystery until a medical exam uncovered a needle inside her head.

A needle about 3 centimeters long found lodged in the woman's head was taken out on Sunday.

The local hospital told her that a metal object was found in her head, and then she went to Xijing Hospital in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, with her family to have it removed.

Lin said that she had a traffic accident 18 years ago and has suffered regular headaches ever since.

Xue Weixing, a doctor from the hospital, said it is not certain that the metal object got into Lin's head during that accident because no wound was found at the time. Xue said that it was possible that the metal object got into Lin's head when she was too young to have a clear memory.

Lin is in good condition after the surgery.