If you needed another reason to double-check your meat’s doneness, here it is.
A doctor has gone viral after sharing an alarming CT scan that revealed the consequences of eating contaminated pork, and it’s not for the squeamish.
Dr. Sam Ghali, a physician with over 630,000 followers on X, posted what he called “one of the craziest CT scans” he’s ever seen.
The image showed a woman’s legs riddled with small white specks, prompting widespread speculation online.
After giving his followers 24 hours to guess the diagnosis, Dr. Ghali revealed the cause: Cysticercosis, a parasitic infection caused by Taenia solium, commonly known as the pork tapeworm.
“This infection occurs when a person ingests the microscopic eggs of the tapeworm,” Dr. Ghali explained, “usually through fecal-oral contamination, not by eating undercooked pork directly, but by consuming food or water tainted with the parasite’s eggs.”
Once inside the body, the eggs release larvae that can travel through the bloodstream and embed themselves in various tissues, forming fluid-filled cysts called cysticerci, according to the National organization for rare disorders According to Dr. Ghali, these cysts most commonly appear in the brain, muscles, eyes, and under the skin.
The scan he shared showed calcified cysticerci in the patient’s legs, remnants of the body’s immune system attacking the parasites, leaving behind distinctive “rice grain” shaped scars.
More concerning, however, is when the larvae reach the brain, a condition known as neurocysticercosis. This form of the disease can cause headaches, seizures, confusion, and other neurological issues, and is a leading cause of epilepsy in some parts of the world.
According to the world health organization, Taenia solium is responsible for up to 30% of epilepsy cases in certain endemic regions where humans and free-roaming pigs often live in close quarters. In some high-risk communities, that number can climb as high as 70%.
Though many cases of cysticercosis are asymptomatic and require no treatment, those with neurocysticercosis often need a tailored regimen of antiparasitic medications, anti-inflammatory drugs, seizure management, and sometimes surgery.
In his closing advice, Dr. Ghali reminded followers of the basics:
“The takeaway? Wash your hands. Keep your food prep clean. And never eat raw or undercooked pork.”
After seeing that scan, skipping pork entirely doesn’t sound so extreme…
