Foot Found in Brain

(Colorado Springs, Colorado) During surgery at Memorial Hospital for Children, pediatric brain surgeon Dr. Paul Grabb found a small foot growing inside the brain of three-year-old Sam Esquibel.

Dr. Grabb also found "parts of an intestine in the folds of the infant's tiny brain, in addition to another developing foot, hand and thigh."

Erin Emery, a spokeswoman for Memorial Hospital, confirmed details of the amazing surgery that took place at the hospital on Oct. 3.

The reason for the strange growth is not known. It may be a teratoma -- a congenital brain tumor composed of foreign tissue such as muscle, hair or teeth. Those types of tumors do not usually grow as complex as a foot.

It could also be a case of fetus in fetu, which is a developmental abnormality in which a fetal twin begins to form within the other.

Grabb told the paper he sees a teratoma once every few years but it doesn't compare to Sam's.

Dr. Grabb believes that the discovery of a completely-formed complex appendage grown in the brain shows what modern medicine might be able to accomplish. By the way, little Sam is described as an alert and happy child.

So far, no complications from his surgery have been noticed.

Tip: slwlion