A case of spinal intradural extramedullary hydatid cyst mimicking a spinal tumor

Abstract

A patient with multiple cystic involvements in rare locations, who is immunosuppressed due to co-existing conditions, has been presented in this case report. A 48-year-old male with numbness in the right leg and a medical history of Behçet's disease, hypertension and ankylosing spondylitis, using prednisolone, methotrexate, sulphasalazine and colchicine admitted to our hospital. He had left hemihypoesthesia below the level of thoracic vertebra 3 and bilateral Babinsky positivity. Cervical magnetic resonance imaging showed an extramedullary mass lesion in the spinal canal, at the level of first thoracic vertebra, which caused compression. Diffuse edema was noted at the spinal cord segments between cervical 5 and thoracic 2 levels. Cervical 7- thoracic 1 laminectomy was performed. The mass was totally excised. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a hydatid cyst. Indirect hemagglutination test for echinococcosis was positive. Radiological examination showed additional cysts in lung, liver and spleen. Two cysts in liver and spleen were drained under computerized tomographic guidance. The patient is still on sulphasalazine, methotrexate and albendazole therapy and is under regular follow-up. © 2013 by Türkiye Klinikleri.