Cystic lesions of the brain: Think of the hydatid cyst.

BACKGROUND

Hydatidosis is an endemic parasitosis in Tunisia that affect mostly the liver and the lung. Brain involvment is rare.

AIM: To focus on diagnostic, therapeutic and evolutive characteristics of cerebral hydatidosis.

METHODS

We report all cases of cerebral hydatidosis seen in the infectious diseases and neurosurgery departments between January 2013 and June 2020.

RESULTS

Six cases of intracranial hydatid cyst were reported. The male to female ratio was 3:3. Age ranged from 3 to 60 years with a median age of 20,5 years. All patients lived in rural areas. The clinical symptomatology was progressive in 4 cases. It was dominated by headache (all cases). Brain imaging confirmed the diagnosis in all cases. The hydatid cyst was solitary and supratentorial in 3 cases. All the patients were operated. Albendazole was prescribed immediately after surgery, for 6 months in 5 cases and for 3 years in the case of disseminated hydatidosis. The outcome was favorable without recurrence in all patients with an average follow-up of 3,5 ± 0,5 years.

CONCLUSION

Hydatid cyst of the brain is characterized by the severity of the neurological signs, the mandatory use of surgery because of life threatening and the excellent outcomes.