A rare case to primary spinal hydatid cyst presenting with neurodeficit

Abstract

Hydatid disease, a parasitic infection caused by Echinococcus granulosus predominantly occur in liver and lungs. Skeletal involvement is uncommon and occurs in only 0.2 to 1 % of all cases. Primary spinal hydatidosis of spine is very rare. We report such a rare case of primary spinal hydatid cyst presenting with neurodeficit, which was treated surgically with excision, decompression and fixation, with aim to create the awareness among surgeon about this rare clinical presentation and pitfalls in diagnosis and management and suggest them to include it in differential diagnosis of the atypical spinal presentation. Hydatid disease necessitates high clinical suspicion, careful neuroradiological evaluation, aggressive surgical intervention, adjuvant chemotherapy and strict follow up to detect recurrence early.