Hydatid cyst of the spine with paraspinal and extradural location: a report of three cases and review of the literature

Abstract

Hydatid cyst of the spine is a rare form of parasitic infection, but it is a serious clinical condition that may cause paraplegia, tetraplegia, or radiculopathy. In this report, we have presented three patients with paraspinal and extradural hydatic cysts aged 36 years, 49 years, and 66 years. Diagnoses were made using computed tomography and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. The cysts were surgically resected and patients were given albendozole treatment postoperatively. We lost one patient during follow-up due to myocardial infarction. The other two patients had no recurrence of their hydatid cysts at six months and one year after the operation. Hydatid cyst of the spine should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients with common symptoms of spinal cord compression. MR imaging should be performed to reach a definitive diagnosis. Hydatid cyst can only be treated by complete resection of the cysts while preventing the lesion from penetrating neighboring tissues. Antihelmintic therapy started before or after the operation and maintained further reduces the risk of recurrence.