Echinococcus alveolaris: presenting as a cerebral metastasis

Abstract

Echinococcus multilocularis (EM) is caused by the larval stage of the tapeworm. The main endemic regions for human alveolar echinococcosis are Central Europe, Russia, Turkey, Japan, China, Eastern France, North America. EM is an endemic disease in Turkey and especially common in the eastern Anatolia Region as seen in our case. The liver is the primary focus of the disease, cerebral localization is rare. Cerebral hydatid disease is approximately 5% of alveolar hydatid cases and generally considered to be fatal. Surgical treatment should be considered whenever possible. We present a case of cerebral alveolar hydatid disease that was thought to be cerebral metastasis.