While treating a man’s chronic migraines in Florida, doctors discovered worm eggs in his brain that were causing him discomfort, according to an article published in the American Journal of Case Reports.
But how did they get there?
Doctors treating the nameless 52-year-old man, who went to the hospital complaining of weekly migraines, were left scratching their heads and asking the same question.
They discovered a lump in his computed tomography (CT) scan that they initially thought were “congenital neuroglial cysts” and quickly admitted him to the hospital.
This image depicts scans from a Florida man with worm eggs in his brain. ― People via American Journal of Case.
This graphic displays scans from the Florida man who had worm eggs in his brain. — People via American Journal of Case
They used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and other tests to determine that these masses were tapeworm larvae rather than cysts.
“Cysticercosis IgG According to the study, the cysts antibody tested positive, validating the possibility of neurocysticercosis.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define “neurocysticercosis” as a preventable parasitic infection produced by the immature stage of the porcine tapeworm, which can infect many regions of the body, including the brain.
