Case Report

PARAPARESIS DUE TO HYDATID DISEASE OF THE THORACIC SPINE: A CASE REPORT

  • Turgut AKGÜL
  • Hamza ARABAĞ

Received Date: 22.07.2012 Accepted Date: 01.09.2012 J Turk Spinal Surg 2012;23(4):347-352

Spinal hydatid disease is a rare pathology that often has a delayed diagnosis due to its atypical symptoms. Here, we present the case of a 63-year-old man with spinal hydatid disease. The patient presented with two months of progressive back pain and one week of progressive lower extremity weakness. His neurological examination showed progressive paraparesis of the lower extremity. The patient had a history of hydatid disease of the lung. Magnetic resonance images of the thoracic region showed an extradural vertebral and paraspinal multicystic lesion. Posterior decompression with laminectomy and debridement of all cystic material was immediately performed to prevent further neurological deficits. The pathological diagnosis was hydatid disease.

Keywords: Hydatid cyst, paraparesis, vertebral osteomyelitis.