A doctor posted an X-ray of a patient infested with tapeworm eggs and took the opportunity to issue a warning about a serious culinary mistake.
Sam Ghali, a doctor from the United States, explained that the man went to the hospital after reporting severe pain in his hip. On social media, he posted a picture of the X-ray images, describing them as one of the “craziest” things he had ever seen.
“This is a condition known as cysticercosis. Essentially, these are larval cysts from taenia solium – also known as the pork tapeworm,” the doctor explained on his X (formerly Twitter) profile.
According to Ghali, this occurs when a person eats raw or undercooked pork, and then gets infected with the worms in their gastrointestinal tract.
“These cysts can travel anywhere in the human body. In this patient, they spread intensely to the muscles and soft tissues of the hips and legs.”
Fortunately, the patient’s condition was discovered while there was still a possibility of treatment. However, Dr. Ghali pointed out that some cases can be fatal. “The problem is that when they travel to the brain and settle there, it can cause very serious issues.”
Here’s a video I made breaking down one of the most insane X-Rays I’ve ever seen#FOAMed pic.twitter.com/wp8xtGFTV5
— Sam Ghali, M.D. (@EM_RESUS) January 16, 2025
Photo and video: X @EM_RESUS. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
