A collection of medical horror. None of the artwork below represents real medical conditions.
Euderus cephalophaga
Human host infested by the parasitoid wasp Euderus cephalophaga. The wasp lays its egg under the skull. The larva then eats the brain tissue over years, mimicking its nerve signals to keep the host alive. Once it replaces the brain, it moults into its final form, ready to hatch.
Pupillosarcoma
A pupillosarcoma is a rare cancerous growth of the pupil. It will rapidly expand and consume nearby structures through an unknown process. Some cases have been linked to mysterious disappearances. There is no known treatment except for the prompt removal of the affected eye.
Fractal Syndrome
Fractal Syndrome is defined as a new entity by the WHO in 2007. First symptoms appear in growth areas such as the skin, nails and intestinal lining. It slowly spreads to the iris, teeth and eventually limbs. Transmission occurs through unknown mechanisms. No treatment exists.
Monodontia
Monodontia, commonly known as “Tombstone teeth”, is a rare condition where adult teeth grow fused into a single block. No cure exists apart from complete excision and replacement with dentures. The causes of monodontia are unknown, but it is thought to be the result of a combined effect of susceptible genetics and infections happening at an early age affecting the growth of teeth.
Calcium Hyperproficiency
Calcium hyperproficiency is a rare complication of vitamin D deficiency, where excess calcium from bone resorption forms complex structures resembling primary teeth. Neoformed teeth grow on different bones, such as this patient’s hand, causing fractures and joint dysfunction.
Mycelium Infection
Read the full Mycelium Infection story
The 1806 Mycelium infection was an epidemic that decimated a village in the south of France. The fungus grew into the bone, creating ossified structures that broke out of the skin to spread spores.
HoxD Gene Manipulation
Tampering with small areas of the human genome can have drastic effects. Inducing the expression of the BAR116 region of the HoxD genes induces body differentiation only seen in the highly specialized mammal limbs of bats and colugos. Examples like this one are rare but notable.
Cymothoa linguophaga
Cymothoa linguophaga is a parasite that targets mammals, including rare cases in humans.
Infection starts with inhalation of the egg. The juvenile travels to the mouth, where it cuts the tongue’s blood vessels, causing necrosis. The isopod then takes the place of the tongue.
Crystalline Conjunctival Hypertrophy
Crystalline Conjunctival Hypertrophy is a rare symptom of heavy metal buildups in the blood, most commonly of cadmium. Small deposits of the metal in the conjunctiva eventually grow into relapsing structures that may protrude out of the eye, such as this advanced case.
Human Blight
New cases of Human Blight are being reported for the first time in a century. The area affected by this pathogenic slime mold will go through necrosis and liquefaction under the skin, creating a soft spot that can break open at the slightest touch, like rotten fruit.
Trioculus
Accounts of Trioculus date as far back as the 6th century. In these reports, someone appears in a state of stupor, whispering that they have seen the face of an Angel. A year later, the Trioculus appears. Within a day, the affected will rise and flee, vanishing without a trace.
© Eduardo Valdés-Hevia
Valdevia 