SouthernWorldwide.com – A 60-year-old man in Spain was initially suspected of having metastatic brain cancer after medical scans revealed multiple tumor-like lesions.
However, further investigations led to a surprising and different diagnosis: the man was found to have live tapeworm larvae in his brain, a condition known as neurocysticercosis.
This parasitic infection of the central nervous system is caused by the pork tapeworm, scientifically named *Taenia solium*.
According to the case report published in the CDC journal *Emerging Infectious Diseases*, the patient, a lifelong resident of Castellón, Spain, had no history of traveling to regions where this disease is commonly found.
The man first sought medical attention due to experiencing two weeks of worsening headaches and subtle changes in his behavior.
Initial CT scans displayed multiple abnormal spots that strongly resembled tumors that had spread from other parts of the body, prompting doctors to suspect advanced brain cancer.
Despite these initial suspicions, comprehensive whole-body scans, a colonoscopy, and specialized imaging techniques failed to detect any signs of cancer within the patient’s body.
It was during a more detailed MRI examination that physicians identified several fluid-filled cysts within the brain. Some of these cysts were observed to contain the head of a tapeworm.
A subsequent blood test confirmed the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis.
The patient received treatment comprising a combination of albendazole and praziquantel, which are antiparasitic medications. Corticosteroids were also administered to help reduce inflammation.
The case report indicates that the man made a full recovery without any complications.
The authors of the report suggest that the man may have contracted the infection years prior through the accidental ingestion of microscopic tapeworm eggs.
This exposure could have occurred while he was working in construction alongside migrant colleagues from regions where neurocysticercosis is endemic.
Humans can contract the pork tapeworm in two primary ways. Consuming undercooked infected pork typically results in an intestinal tapeworm infection.
However, inadvertently swallowing the parasite’s eggs, often through contaminated food or water containing feces, can allow the larvae to enter the bloodstream.
Once in the bloodstream, these larvae can develop into cysts in the brain and other organs, leading to neurocysticercosis, the disease diagnosed in this patient.
The researchers acknowledged that, due to the single-case nature of this report, the exact source of transmission could not be definitively proven.
Therefore, the findings cannot be generalized to a larger population. The report does highlight the possibility of local transmission occurring in areas where the disease is not typically endemic, though it does not specify the frequency of such occurrences.
In the United States, less than 2% of neurocysticercosis cases are believed to be acquired domestically, according to the case report.
A previous systematic review identified only 18 confirmed cases of locally acquired neurocysticercosis in Western Europe between 1990 and 2011.
In some instances, neurocysticercosis can lead to severe symptoms. These can include seizures, stroke, neurological deficits, and cognitive decline.
The researchers concluded in their case study, “Our case emphasizes that the absence of travel history should not preclude NCC from the differential diagnosis of multiple ring-enhancing brain lesions, even in regions where metastatic cancer is statistically much more likely.”
They further added that earlier detection of the worms could have prevented “unnecessary invasive oncologic procedures and led to prompt, targeted antiparasitic therapy.”
