Cerebral Hydatitosis: About 12 Observations at the University Hospital Center of Conakry

Abstract

Cosmopolitan disease, hydatidosis is caused by the hydatid larvae of a tapeworm of Echinococcus granulosus canes developing in the liver, lungs, heart and central nervous system. The biological certainty of brain damage in West Africa is difficult to confirm because of the supposed rarity of this affection and the difficulties of accessibility to MRI and CT radiological data suggestive of the disease. We retrospectively analyzed the file of 268 patients hospitalized in the Neurology Department between 2010 and 2016 for the management of encephalic syndrome with cystic neuroradiological cerebral lesions. Biological and neuroradiological evidence of hydatidosis was reported in 12 patients (4, 47%). An encephalic and infectious syndrome: headache, nausea and vomiting, fever, disorders of consciousness, sensitivo-motor deficit with hemiparesis type, cerebellar syndrome and sometimes visual disorders, expression of intracranial hypertension was found in patients. These elements of intracranial hypertension objectified in most patients, were associated in 3 cases with liver disorders. The biological data haemagglutination, Eliza, moderate eosinophilia, radiological CT / MRI and the demonstration of scolex during percutaneous aspirations (2 cases) and on operative specimens were the diagnostic confirmation beam.