Friday, December 19, 2008

FOOT IN BRAIN

A pediatric brain surgeon was surprised to find a foot growing in the brain of 3-day-old, Sam Esquibel.
"The foot literally popped out of the brain," Grabb told TheDenverChannel Wednesday.

The appendage threatened the newborn's life.When Grabb performed the life-saving surgery at Memorial Hospital for Children in Colorado Springs, he was in for another surprise: he also found what appeared to be parts of an intestine in the folds of the infant's tiny brain, in addition to another developing foot, hand and thigh.

"I've never seen anything like it before," Grabb told the Colorado Springs Gazette. "It looked like the breach delivery of a baby coming out of the brain."

The reason for the strange growth was not clear at first. It was thought to be a teratoma -- a congenital brain tumor composed of foreign tissue such as muscle, hair or teeth -- or a fetus in fetu, which is a developmental abnormality in which a fetal twin begins to form within the other.
Little Sam is expected to do well but will be monitored in case the brain tumor returns.

To read the full story, including news video and a graphic photo, click here.

No comments:

Related Posts with Thumbnails