A disturbing X-ray image shared by an emergency room doctor has revealed thousands of calcified tapeworm cysts throughout a patient’s pelvis and legs.
Dr Sam Ghali, Assistant Professor in Emergency Medicine at the University of Florida, posted what he called “one of the most insane X-rays I’ve ever seen” on social media.
The horrific image shows numerous white dots scattered across the patient’s lower body, which were identified as tapeworm larvae that had developed into cysts.
The patient had reportedly attended the emergency room for a broken bone but was unaware of the extensive parasitic infestation visible in their scan.
The condition, known as cysticercosis, occurs when a person consumes food or water contaminated with tapeworm eggs
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a person gets the condition known as cysticercosis “by consuming tapeworm eggs” which “hatch and develop into larvae”.
The larvae then move through the intestinal wall and travel to various tissues, where they form cysts.
Ghali further explained: “The life cycle begins with a human consuming raw or undercooked pig… that person becomes infected with the worms in their GI tract and passes the eggs along to another unfortunate human who then consumes them.”
“These cysts can travel anywhere throughout the entire body,” he warned, adding that it could particularly affect muscular and soft tissue around the hips and legs.
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In the pelvis and legs, the cysts eventually calcify, creating what the doctor described as a “classic appearance known as rice grain calcification”.
Whilst the cysts in these areas do not pose an immediate danger, the situation becomes critical if they reach the brain.
“That can cause very serious issues. As you can imagine, that can lead to neurological symptoms like headaches, confusion, seizures and even death,” the professor explained.
According to the World Health Organisation, approximately 2.8 million people are infected with this parasite annually, with cases most commonly emerging across Asia, South America and Eastern Europe.
Ghali advised everyone to “keep clean, always wash your hands, and never, ever eat raw or undercooked pork” (Stock)
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The CDC has emphasised that poor cleanliness or sanitation can lead to the spread of tapeworm eggs through contaminated food or water.
Living with someone who has a tapeworm increases the risk of developing cysticercosis.
People with tapeworms can even infect themselves with eggs through what’s known as autoinfection.
The risk is particularly high in developing countries across Africa, Asia, and Latin America due to “unimproved sanitation facilities”, defined as areas where there is no separation of human waste from human contact.
Ghali advised: “Do your best to keep clean, always wash your hands, and never, ever eat raw or undercooked pork.”