Medical treatment of primary extradural solitary lumbar hydatid disease

Abstract

Hydatid disease of the spine is rare and has a poor prognosis, presenting both diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. Paraplegia is the most serious complication of the disease and is caused by compression of the spinal cord by the cysts. We report a 30-year-old woman with an isolated primary hydatid cyst that responded to treatment with albendazole. She presented with back and right leg pain. MRI of the lumbar spine showed a solitary cyst measuring 2.2 x 2.7 cm, with an intraspinal extension at L4-L5. Physical examination did not reveal any focal deficit and the patient was treated with albendazole drug therapy (400mg daily). After 7 months' treatment, she had improved both clinically and radiologically. Albendazole drug therapy appears to be effective for conservative treatment of patients with primary solitary hydatid disease in the lumbar spine.