An extensive vertebral hydatidosis revealed by a lumbosciatica

Echinococcosis of the spine

Echinococcosis or hydatid disease affecting the spine is an uncommon manifestation of Echinococcus granulosus infection of the spine.More commonly found in endemic areas, it causes significant morbidity and mortality as it grows slowly and produces symptoms mainly by compressing the spinal cord.As diagnostic methods are non-specific, diagnosis and management are usually delayed until the disease is advanced, thereby therapy is usually unlikely.Treatment is usually surgical, aiming at cyst excision, spinal cord decompression and spinal stabilization.This article summarizes the clinical findings of echinococcosis of the spine, discusses the specific laboratory and diagnostic findings, lists the current treatment options, and reviews the patients' outcomes.The aim is to prompt clinicians to be aware of the possibility of echinococcosis as a possible diagnosis in endemic areas. Cite this article: EFORT Open Rev 2021;6:288-296. DOI: 10.1302/2058-5241.6.200130.

Spinal cystic echinococcosis--a systematic analysis and review of the literature: part 2. Treatment, follow-up and outcome

Bone involvement in human cystic echinococcosis (CE) is rare, but affects the spine in approximately 50% of cases. Despite significant advances in diagnostic imaging techniques, surgical treatment and introduction of pharmacological therapy, spinal echinococcosis remains associated with a high degree of morbidity, disability and mortality. We systematically reviewed the published literature of the last five decades to update and summarize the currently existing data on treatment, follow-up and outcome of spinal CE.

Paraplegia associated with spinal hydatid cyst: a case report

STUDY DESIGN

Case report.

OBJECTIVES

To report a case with paraplegia caused by spinal hydatid cyst.

SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA

Hydatid cyst is a disease caused by larval Echinococcus granulosus tapeworm. Spinal hydatid cyst rarely leads to severe neurologic problems.

METHODS

A 34-year-old male patient was referred to our outpatient clinic due to back and low back pain, progressive weakness and numbness in both lower extremities, and a prediagnosis of lumbar disc hernia. He had spastic paraplegia, and thorax magnetic resonance imaging revealed a lobulated cystic lesion with extradural intraspinal localization.

RESULTS

After surgery and following 2 months of rehabilitation program, the patient showed a dramatic clinical improvement.

CONCLUSION

By this case, it is emphasized that spinal hydatid cyst should come to mind in the differential diagnosis of spinal cord compression, and the importance of prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment is highlighted because of high mortality and morbidity.