Surgeons Discover 10-Inch Tapeworm in Man's Abdomen During Hernia Surgery

During a laparoscopic surgery on a 71-year-old man for an inguinal hernia, surgeons were shocked to find a living 10-inch tapeworm in his abdomen. The surgery took place recently and was intended to repair a painless bulge on the right side of his groin.

Unexpected Discovery During Surgery

While performing the procedure, surgeons noticed a whitish, stringy object wedged between the man’s bladder and pubic bone. After using forceps to extract the object, they revealed it to be a 26 cm long (10.2 inch) tapeworm, which was still alive and writhing on the surgical table.

The case, reported in the New England Journal of Medicine, highlighted the rarity of finding such worms in humans, as they are typically found in animals. The man had no prior indications of a parasitic infection, with normal blood work and no symptoms beyond the hernia.

Understanding Tapeworm Infections

After the surgery, genetic testing identified the worm as Spirometra erinaceieuropaei, known to cause a rare tapeworm infection called sparganosis. The lifecycle of these parasites typically involves dogs and cats, which shed eggs that hatch in water and are then ingested by crustaceans.

Humans can inadvertently become hosts by consuming undercooked fish or contaminated water. In this case, the man recalled eating raw snake meat during military service 50 years ago as a potential source of infection.

Previous Incidents and Treatment

This was not the first time the man experienced such a peculiar situation. Four years earlier, he had undergone surgery for a left-side inguinal hernia, during which another worm, measuring 18 cm (7 inches), was found. Unfortunately, that worm was not identified, and he did not receive anti-parasitic treatment then.

Following the recent discovery, doctors prescribed anti-parasitic medication to eliminate any remaining worms. The man's case raises questions about how such infections occur and emphasizes the importance of proper diagnosis and treatment.