Secondary hydatidosis of the rib, posterior mediastinum and soft tissues

Abstract

The spine is an uncommon location for hydatid disease; the incidence is 0.5–1% of all cases. Osteohydatidosis of the spine is usually silent unless a complication occurs. Ribs are rarely affected by this disease, either intraosseously or extraosseously. Diagnosis is generally made through the combined clinical, radiological and laboratory assessments. Living in rural areas is an important risk factor for this disease. The gold standard for treatment is radical excision of the spine and affected ribs, and chemotherapy with albendazol. Recurrence of disease is common and prognosis is often poor, especially if the spine is affected. We present a case of a 48-year-old woman with a history of hydatid cyst disease of the spine, whose disease recurred after 18 years, affecting the posterior mediastinum, rib and soft tissues of the right para spinal muscles.