Doctors suspected man had brain cancer. He actually had worms.
Summary
A 60-year-old man in Spain had brain lesions and worsening headaches that doctors first thought were cancer. After many tests, they found the lesions were actually caused by tapeworm larvae in his brain, a condition called neurocysticercosis. He was treated with anti-parasitic drugs and recovered.Key Facts
- The man had headaches and some changes in behavior for two weeks.
- Blood tests showed high IgE, indicating possible allergies or parasitic infections.
- Initial brain scans showed multiple lesions and swelling, leading doctors to suspect cancer.
- Cancer tests, including scans and colonoscopy, found no tumors.
- A detailed MRI scan revealed the lesions were tapeworm larvae called cysticerci, with visible heads (scolexes).
- The man had no international travel but may have caught the parasite from coworkers who came from regions where pork tapeworms are common.
- The parasite Taenia solium spreads through contaminated food or water and can infect the brain, causing neurocysticercosis.
- The man was treated with anti-parasitic medicine and made a good recovery.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.