A routine X-ray of a 65-year-old South Korean woman with severe knee pain revealed hundreds of tiny gold needles embedded in her tissue. She had turned to acupuncture, a traditional Asian therapy, after standard osteoarthritis treatments failed.
In her case, the gold needles were intentionally left behind to provide ongoing stimulation. However, doctors warn that leaving foreign objects in the body can trigger inflammation, infection, and interfere with imaging.
MRI scans, in particular, pose life-threatening risks due to magnetic movement of the metal. While gold thread acupuncture remains common in parts of Asia, scientific evidence of its benefits is limited. Experts urge caution, reminding patients that alternative therapies, while appealing, can carry serious and unexpected medical consequences.
