It’s rare these days to find something that truly makes you gasp, but there’s a whole category of medical oddities that does just that. The 10 craziest objects ever pulled from a human body range from everyday mishaps to bizarre biological curiosities. While many cases involve surgical slip‑ups or parasitic invasions, the sheer variety of items that have ended up inside a person is astonishing.
From stubborn cysts and crawling larvae to forgotten surgical tools and even a whole cell phone, we’ve compiled the ten most jaw‑dropping removals ever documented. Buckle up for a wild ride through the world of unexpected anatomy.
10 Cysts
Sometimes the things that get “trapped” inside us aren’t the result of a prank or a mistake; they’re natural growths like cysts. Large cysts can ooze pus and, if they linger for years, they may harden into strange, pearl‑like masses that look almost alien.
One episode of Dr. Sandra Lee’s popular series, better known as Dr. Pimple Popper, showcases her extracting decades‑old cysts from a woman’s scalp. The footage is definitely not for the faint‑hearted, but it highlights how a seemingly harmless bump can become a bizarre, brain‑like structure after long‑term growth.
Another patient, a regular viewer named Roger, developed a cyst inside his nose that managed to sprout its own blood vessels. With a dedicated blood supply, the cyst enlarged dramatically, eventually hanging over his mouth like a grotesque pendant. After years of living with the odd growth, Roger underwent surgery to excise the cyst and reconstruct his nostril, finally putting an end to his rhinophyma‑related woes.
Fans of Dr. Pimple Popper will attest that cyst removal can be oddly satisfying, proving that our bodies sometimes act like hidden oysters, secreting pearls that are far from the usual jewelry you’d expect.
9 Larvae
Yes, bugs earn a spot on this list, and the infamous botfly is a prime example. These parasitic insects lay their eggs on a host’s skin, and once the eggs hatch, the wriggling larvae set up camp under the surface, turning the body into a miniature amusement park for the unwitting victim.
Botfly larvae look fuzzy, reminiscent of a tiny bumblebee, but they’re far from cute. After burrowing beneath the skin, they create painful, pustule‑like lesions that may feel like something is moving inside. The sensation can be unsettling, to say the least.
Professional removal is a must—attempting a DIY extraction can worsen the infection. Dermatologists typically suffocate the larvae by covering the wound with tape or petroleum jelly, making the bugs easier to pull out without causing additional trauma.
Travelers to humid, tropical regions—especially Brazil—should stay vigilant, as the warm climate creates an ideal breeding ground for these unwelcome house guests.
8 It’s People
It’s not a sci‑fi plot about cannibalism; it’s a rare condition known as fetus‑in‑fetu, where an under‑developed twin forms inside the host’s abdomen. Though most of these parasitic twins never survive past birth, a handful of cases have produced fully recognizable limbs and organs.
In 2016, a 15‑year‑old boy in Malaysia was rushed to the emergency department after complaining of severe stomach pain. Imaging revealed a well‑formed parasitic twin residing inside his abdominal cavity, complete with legs, hands, and even genitalia, though the facial features were only partially developed.
Surgeons successfully removed the twin, which unfortunately could not survive outside its host. The operation underscores how a seemingly normal human can harbor another person, however malformed, within their own body.
7 Moths
Picture a moonlit porch, the soft hum of a light bulb, and a swarm of moths darting around your head. Now imagine one of those delicate insects making a misguided detour into your ear canal. While it sounds like a quirky anecdote, moths do occasionally crawl into human ears, causing discomfort and a frantic search for removal.
Although some people manage to coax the insect out with gentle shaking, medical professionals typically use warm water or a few drops of oil to coax the moth to the opening. In cases where the moth is larger, a pair of tweezers may be employed under careful supervision to avoid damaging the delicate ear structures.
6 Roundworm
When you think of parasites, tapeworms often steal the spotlight for their impressive length, but roundworms can be just as unsettling. These helminths are contracted by ingesting contaminated food or water, and they can settle in various body parts, including the mouth and lips.
One particularly chilling case involved a woman whose doctors discovered a six‑inch roundworm lodged inside her upper lip. The parasite had been feeding off the surrounding tissue, causing swelling and discomfort. Surgical extraction relieved her symptoms, but the sight of a worm protruding from a lip is enough to send shivers down anyone’s spine.
Roundworms, while smaller than their tapeworm cousins, still present a vivid reminder that not all “worms” belong in a garden; some prefer the interior of a human host.
5 Retractor
Medical mishaps can sometimes turn a routine operation into a bizarre tale of forgotten instruments. A surgical retractor—used to hold back tissue during procedures—ended up abandoned inside a patient’s chest cavity, illustrating how even seasoned surgeons can make critical oversights.
Donald Church, a man suffering from persistent, sharp chest pains, was initially told his discomfort was normal post‑operative soreness. After a month of unrelenting agony, a follow‑up X‑ray finally revealed a 12‑inch retractor lodged deep within his thorax. The discovery prompted an urgent surgical retrieval, finally alleviating his pain.
The incident serves as a stark reminder that even the most routine tools can become unintended guests if not accounted for during closure.
4 Forceps
Imagine thinking a minor accident is behind you, only to discover a pair of surgical scissors—broken in half—has been living inside you for nearly two decades. That’s exactly what happened to a Vietnamese man named Va Man Nhat, whose abdomen harbored the rogue instrument long after a road‑traffic injury.
In 2017, doctors finally uncovered the fractured forceps while treating Nhat for chronic abdominal pain. He recounted that the original surgery took place in 1998, and he was repeatedly told his lingering discomfort stemmed from an ulcer, not a forgotten surgical tool.
The revelation that a pair of scissors had been silently embedded for 19 years underscores the importance of thorough post‑operative imaging, especially when pain persists despite conventional diagnoses.
It’s a chilling reminder that the very instruments meant to heal can become the source of long‑term misery if accidentally left behind.
3 Cell Phone
A 33‑year‑old man from Kosovo made a baffling decision: he swallowed an entire Nokia mobile phone. The device sat in his stomach for four days before a team of surgeons intervened to retrieve it, fragment by fragment, without having to make a large incision.
The operation was a logistical puzzle—surgeons had to break the phone into three manageable pieces, then extract each part through a small opening, avoiding damage to surrounding organs. While the patient emerged unharmed, medical staff were left scratching their heads, wondering what prompted someone to ingest a fully functional cell phone in the first place.
Parents can take note: batteries, especially those in older phones, contain corrosive chemicals that pose severe health risks if swallowed. This incident highlights the unexpected dangers of ingesting seemingly innocuous objects.
2 Forks and Spoons
In 2009, a 52‑year‑old woman named Margaret Daalman was admitted with excruciating stomach pain. An X‑ray revealed a shocking sight: roughly 78 pieces of cutlery—forks, spoons, and even knives—had been consumed and were now lodged throughout her gastrointestinal tract.
Psychiatric evaluation linked her behavior to borderline personality disorder, which can drive compulsive eating of non‑food items, a condition known as pica. Surgeons successfully removed the metallic debris, but the case serves as a stark illustration of how mental health challenges can manifest in extreme, self‑harmful ways.
1 Butt Bottle
We’ll close this list with a truly awkward and painful episode. A 73‑year‑old farmer, accustomed to rustic living, found himself without modern plumbing. When nature called, he chose an empty glass jar—once used for maraschino cherries—to relieve himself in the field.
Unfortunately, his wooden prosthetic limb gave out, causing him to fall onto the jar. The glass container became lodged in his rectum, and the neck of the bottle snapped inside, leading to severe bleeding and an emergency hospital transfer.
Surgeons employed obstetric forceps—typically used to assist in childbirth—to carefully extract the broken bottle from his lower colon. After a tense operation, the farmer survived, though the incident left him with a vivid lesson about improvising bathroom solutions.
Bottom line: never, ever use a jar as a makeshift toilet. The consequences can be both gruesome and avoidable.