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Case Reports
. 2023 May:106:108172.
doi: 10.1016/j.ijscr.2023.108172. Epub 2023 Apr 11.

Giant hydatid cyst of the brain: Intact cyst removal in 8-year-old child

Amir Abbas Ghasemi  1 , Haadi Mohammadzade  2 , Roozbeh Mohammadi  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Giant hydatid cyst of the brain: Intact cyst removal in 8-year-old child

Amir Abbas Ghasemi et al. Int J Surg Case Rep. 2023 May.

Abstract

Introduction and importance: Cystic echinococcosis (hydatidosis) in humans is an infectious disease caused by tapeworms of Echinococcus genus. Brain involvement is rare. The best treatment is surgery and intact cyst removal is mandatory to prevent recurrence and possible anaphylactic reaction.

Case presentation: An 8-year-old girl presented with a 1-month history of malaise, headache and vomiting. On Physical examinations, she was disoriented with bilateral papilledema. Brain CT scan and MRI revealed a well-defined cystic mass in left temporo-parieto-occipital region with considerable midline shift without perilesional edema. The patient was diagnosed with brain hydatid cyst and underwent surgical excision of the cyst without rupture.

Clinical discussion: Surgery is the most important part of intracranial hydatid cyst treatment, and surgeons should make every effort to remove them in toto without spillage. We hence decided to perform surgery and necessary precautions to prevent rupture and dissemination of hydatid were taken during the surgery.

Conclusion: A neurosurgeon has to bear in mind brain hydatid cyst in the differential diagnosis of cystic cerebral lesions especially in children from rural areas. The hydrodissection technique is the gold standard for the surgical treatment of cerebral hydatid cyst disease. It can also be effectively applied to the treatment of giant cerebral hydatid cyst disease without rupturing the cyst.

Keywords: Brain; Echinococcosis; Hydatid cyst; Surgery.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declaration of competing interest The authors had no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Axial and coronal brain CT Scan showing cystic lesion in left temporo-parieto-occipital region.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Axial T1W and T2W MRI showing a spherical and well-defined, smooth, thin walled, homogeneous cystic lesion with signal similar to the cerebrospinal fluid without septations.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Sagittal and Axial T1W MRI with contrast showing posterior and lateral walls enhancement.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Gradual separation and delivery of the brain hydatid cyst with hydrodissection.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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