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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Dec 4, 2025

Author Spotlight: Enhancing Microinjection Needle Quality by Wet Beveling

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Published on: September 27, 2024

The Wandering Charm Needle.

Vimbai Chekenyere¹, Emma Choon Hwee Lee¹, Winston Eng Hoe Lim^1,2

¹Division of Radiological Sciences, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.

Journal of Radiology Case Reports

|October 22, 2020

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Charm needles, or susuk, are believed to bring magical benefits but can cause complications. This report details the first documented case of a susuk needle migrating into the brain.

Keywords:

Charm needle Foreign bodies Radiology Susuk

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Area of Science:

Medical Case Reports
Neurosurgery
Cultural Practices

Background:

Charm needles (susuk) are subcutaneous talismans common in Southeast Asia.
They are generally considered benign, with no reported complications in medical literature.
Susuk are typically made of inert precious metals and rarely migrate.

Observation:

A middle-aged Chinese female presented with a complication from a charm needle.
The susuk was inserted subcutaneously into the occipital scalp.
The needle migrated through the skull into the left cerebellar hemisphere.

Findings:

This case represents the first reported complication of a charm needle in the English medical literature.
The migration of the subcutaneous charm needle into the brain parenchyma is a significant finding.
Highlights potential risks associated with practices involving subcutaneous foreign bodies.

Implications:

Challenges the perception of susuk as entirely benign.
Emphasizes the need for awareness among healthcare professionals regarding rare complications of cultural practices.
Suggests that even biologically inert materials can pose risks if they migrate intracranially.