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Patient presented with persistent headache and behavioral changes, but detailed exams revealed neurocysticercosis caused by larvae of Taenia solium.
A 60-year-old man experienced moments of great apprehension after receiving a strong suspicion of metastatic brain cancer.
The patient, residing in the community of Valencia, Spain, had been experiencing progressive headaches for two weeks.
Family members also noticed subtle changes in his behavior, which led to neurological examinations.
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The initial images showed multiple brain lesions accompanied by inflammation, a scenario similar to that observed in cases of metastasis.
A thorough medical investigation, however, revealed that the lesions were not tumors.
The spots identified in the brain were, in fact, cysts caused by tapeworm larvae lodged in the central nervous system.
Initial exams indicated possible metastatic cancer
The first CT scan identified several lesions scattered throughout the patient’s brain.
The exam also revealed edema around the affected areas, reinforcing the hypothesis of a serious oncological disease.
The medical team then began a comprehensive search for any tumor located in another part of the body.
The patient underwent different procedures, including:
- Whole-body CT scan with contrast;
- Colonoscopy;
- PET/CT scan;
- Brain MRI.
No evidence of cancer was found in the other organs.
The absence of a primary tumor led specialists to re-examine the brain structures with more detailed images.
MRI revealed cysts with scolex
The MRI showed solid and cystic lesions distributed across both hemispheres of the brain.
Some of these structures had small internal points known as scolex.
The scolex corresponds to the head region of the Taenia solium larvae.
The presence of these structures led doctors to consider the diagnosis of neurocysticercosis.
The disease is a parasitic infection that affects the central nervous system and can produce different neurological symptoms.
Laboratory tests identified antibodies related to the parasite.
The diagnosis was confirmed by the National Center for Microbiology in Spain, linked to the Carlos III Health Institute.
Patient had no history of international travel
The man had never traveled to other countries, according to the medical report.
His family members also had no history of travel to regions where neurocysticercosis is more frequent.
The patient, however, had worked for years in construction.
During this period, he shared meals and sanitary facilities with migrant workers.
Researchers considered the possibility of a fecal-oral transmission that occurred many years earlier.
The exact time and place of contamination could not be determined.
Neurocysticercosis does not occur directly from consuming pork
Neurocysticercosis occurs when a person accidentally ingests eggs of Taenia solium.
The larvae can travel through the body, reach the bloodstream, and migrate to organs like the brain.
The formation of cysts can cause headaches, seizures, and other neurological changes.
Intestinal taeniasis, on the other hand, is related to the consumption of contaminated and undercooked pork.
Both conditions involve the same parasite but have different forms of transmission and manifestation.
Antiparasitic treatment led to patient improvement
The man received treatment with albendazole, praziquantel, and dexamethasone after the diagnosis was confirmed.
The symptoms showed rapid improvement during medical follow-up.
The treatment was completed without significant complications.
The clinical case occurred in 2025 and was published on June 24, 2026 in the scientific journal Emerging Infectious Diseases.
The researchers emphasized that the absence of travel should not rule out neurocysticercosis during the analysis of multiple brain lesions.
Correct identification avoided invasive oncological procedures and allowed for the initiation of appropriate antiparasitic treatment.
Did you imagine that tapeworm larvae could produce lesions so similar to metastases in the brain? Share your opinion!
