Intradural Intramedullary Spinal Hydatid Cyst Mimicking Cystic Malignancy: A Case Report

Primary spinal hydatid cyst is considered as a very rare form of hydatid disease, which accounts for less than 0.5% to 1% of hydatid disease cases. Intramedullary hydatid cyst is extremely rare. Herein, the researchers reported on a 23 - year - old male patient, who presented neck pain for 1.5 month and numbness of the right upper and lower extremities as well as ipsilateral disturbance in temperature sensation (Brown - Sequard syndrome) since two weeks prior to this hospital admission. Magnetic resonance imaging of cervical vertebrae revealed a 21 x 14 mm cystic intramedullary mass lesion with faint rim enhancement at C3 to C4 level with adjacent edema (Figure 1). Surgical resection was done and pathologic evaluation of the specimen was in favor of hydatid cyst disease, and the patient was treated with postoperative anthelmintic chemotherapy.