A viable residual spinal hydatid cyst cured with albendazole

Abstract

<jats:p content-type="fine-print">✓ Spinal hydatid disease is a rare entity that frequently yields to severe, acute-onset neurological deficits. Although the gold standard treatment is total surgical removal of the cysts without inducing any spillage, it may not be possible to perform this in patients with multiple and fragile cysts. In such cases, the neural structures should be adequately decompressed and albendazole should be administered promptly.</jats:p> <jats:p content-type="fine-print">The authors describe the case of a 13-year-old girl who was admitted with a history of back pain and acute-onset lower-extremity weakness. Magnetic resonance imaging scans demonstrated severe spinal cord compression caused by multiple cysts involving T-4 and the mediastinum. The patient underwent surgery, and the cysts were removed, except for one cyst that was hardly exposed. Following histopathological confirmation of spinal hydatid disease, she was treated with albendazole for 1 year. One year postoperatively, the residual cyst had gradually shrunk and had almost disappeared.</jats:p> <jats:p content-type="fine-print">Although a single case is not sufficiently promising, we believe that administration of albendazole is efficient to prevent recurrences in cases in which it is not possible to obtain total removal of the cysts without inducing spillage.</jats:p>

Re: Vertebral hydatid cyst infection (Echinococcus granulosus): a case report

“…Recently, successful treatment of hydatid disease with albendazole (ALB) for at least 1 year has been reported [3,6,7]. We do not agree with the authors' claim that ALB is a parasitostatic drug rather than parasiticidal, and that the disease is controlled rather than cured.…”

“…Vertebral hydatid cyst infection has typically an invasive nature, and the removal of all the cysts cannot be achieved without perforating the cyst wall in the majority of cases [3,5,9,12]. Recently, successful treatment of hydatid disease with albendazole (ALB) for at least 1 year has been reported [3,6,7].…”

Intradural extramedullary spinal hydatidosis: case report

“…Albendazole and mebendazole are the main anti-helmintic drugs used. Nevertheless, bony involvement has demonstrated a less favorable response than other sites 3 .…”

Rehabilitation in Spinal Hydatid Disease with Recurrences: Case Report

“…8 Antihelmintik tedaviye bir ile altı ay arasında devam edilmesi önerilmektedir. 21 Yine rekürrenslere karşı, albendazol ile praziquantel (50 mg/kg/gün) kombinasyonu da uygulanabilmektedir. 21 Olgumuzda hastalık süresince uygulanan tüm cerrahi tedavilerden sonra antihelmintik tedaviler kullanılmasına rağmen nüksler devam etmiştir.…”

“…21 Yine rekürrenslere karşı, albendazol ile praziquantel (50 mg/kg/gün) kombinasyonu da uygulanabilmektedir. 21 Olgumuzda hastalık süresince uygulanan tüm cerrahi tedavilerden sonra antihelmintik tedaviler kullanılmasına rağmen nüksler devam etmiştir. Vertebral kist hidatikte, zayıf kemik penetrasyonu nedeniyle hastalığın medikal tedaviye de çok iyi yanıt vermediği bilinmektedir.…”