Intradural extramedullary primary hydatid cyst of the spine in a child: a very rare presentation

Abstract

Spinal hydatid cyst is a serious but fortunately uncommon manifestation of the parasite Echinococcus, involving less than 1% patients with hydatid disease. Intradural hydatid cysts are extremely rare compared to other types of spinal hydatid cysts. We report a rare case of intradural, extramedullary spinal hydatid cyst in a 9-yearold male boy, who presented with weakness of both lower limbs for the last 4 months that was confirmed histopathologically; a better understanding of this rare but clinically challenging disease is intended by reporting this case.

Multiple Primary Intraspinal Extradural Hydatid Cyst in a Young Patient

“…Vertebral column involvement is seen in 50% of the spinal hydatidoses. 2,3 We are hereby presenting a case of primary extradural spinal hydatidoses with multiple level involvement, which is a rare entity.…”

The Michel Benoist and Robert Mulholland yearly European Spine Journal Review: a survey of the “surgical and research” articles in the European Spine Journal, 2010

“…Both had excellent literature discussions. The two case reports dealing with hydatid disease were of interest, one dealing with total excision of an intra-dural extra-medullary hydatid cyst, and one dealing with aspiration of a cyst within muscle and injection with albendazole [5,8]. In view of the absence of any bone involvement in the first case, one wonders whether the technique of aspiration used with such success in the second case might have been applicable.…”

Intradural extramedullary primary hydatid cyst of the spine in a child: a very rare presentation

“…In their article that has passed peer review, Drs. Arif and Zaheer, pathologists, heighten our awareness about this uncommon but clinically challenging disease [1]. The authors nicely presented the radiological findings and surgical features of their case in detail, in addition to the pathological characteristics of the hydatid cyst.…”