Primary solitary and multiple intracranial hydatid cyst disease: Report of four cases

Abstract

Four patients suffered from headache and vomiting at the time of diagnosis. A preoperative diagnosis of the disease was made thanks to cranial magnetic resonance imaging findings and indirect hemagglutination test for Echinococcus granulosus. Of these four children, three had cysts in cerebral localization and one in cerebellar localization. Two children had multiple and one of them had recurrent cerebral hydatid disease. All patients received albendazole treatment. While three patients did well after surgical excision, a ventriculoperitoneal shunt was placed in one. Also, this child was operated for duramater defect. Histopathological nad microbiological studies were performed for surgical specimens. We consider that primary hydatid disease of brain is still a difficult problem despite all advances in diagnostic methods and surgical techniques.