health
Doctors suspected man had brain cancer. He actually had worms.
His doctors went looking for cancer, then they saw the worms’ heads.
TL;DR
- A man in Spain experienced a worsening headache and behavioral changes.
- Initial CT scans showed multiple brain lesions and swelling, leading doctors to suspect cancer.
- Extensive cancer tests, including whole-body scans and colonoscopy, were negative.
- An MRI revealed the lesions were encapsulated tapeworm larvae (cysticerci), not tumors.
- The man was diagnosed with neurocysticercosis (NCC), likely contracted through cryptic transmission from coworkers.
- NCC can cause severe neurological issues, but this man's symptoms were mild.
- He was treated with antiparasitic drugs and recovered.
- The case highlights that neurocysticercosis should be considered even without a travel history, especially when cancer is statistically more probable.