Long-term result of treatment for paraspinal and extradural hydatid cyst: a case report

Hydatid cyst is a zoonosis affecting any part of the body and presenting difficulty in diagnosis and treatment. Primary bone involvement seen in about 2% of the cases is accompanied by spinal involvement in 50%. A 41-year-old female presented with low back pain radiating to the left leg. After physical examination, radiologic and laboratory investigations, a diagnosis of spinal hydatid cyst was made with intraspinal extradural, vertebral, and paravertebral involvement. The patient was treated with two-staged posterior and anterior surgical resections with addition of pre- and postoperative antihelminthic therapy. No recurrences developed within a follow-up of 5.5 years. Recurrences can be reduced by initiation of antihelminthic therapy preoperatively, perioperative injection of scolicidal agents into the cyst, and careful excision of the cyst without spread to neighboring tissues.