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Spinal intradural hydatid cyst causing arachnoiditis: A rare etiology of cauda equina syndrome.
Abstract: This study aims to focus on a rare presentation of spinal hydatid cyst as cauda equine syndrome and misdiagnosed as intradural extramedullary (IDEM) benign lesion on magnetic resonance imaging. In this article, we report a case of spinal hydatid cyst masquerading as IDEM tumor, and intraoperatively, we accidently find clumped granuloma with severe arachnoiditis and hydatid cyst in lumber region, which was present as bilateral S1 radiculopathy with cauda equina syndrome. An 11-year-old boy who presented with symptoms and signs of cauda equina syndrome and planned for surgical excision. His radiological impression was IDEM possibly neurofibroma. To our surprise, we found multiple intradural cystic lesions with arachnoiditis. Dissecting in plane cyst was flushed out, and surgical cavity was irrigated with 3% saline. Postoperatively histopathology and serum tests confirmed the diagnosis of hydatid cyst. Hydatid disease is rare cause of cauda equine syndrome which can be miss diagnosed on radiological investigations. A high index of suspicion should be kept especially in a young patient from the Indian subcontinent.
Publication Date: 2016-11-29 PubMed ID: 27891041PubMed Central: PMC5111333DOI: 10.4103/0974-8237.193257Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Case Reports
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research article discusses a rare case where a spinal hydatid cyst, a type of parasitic infection, mimicked a benign intradural extramedullary (IDEM) tumor, causing the patient to exhibit cauda equina syndrome. Through a study of this specific case, the research showcases that spinal hydatid cyst can occasionally cause the syndrome, and it could be misdiagnosed due to its similarity to benign tumoral lesions on MRI scans.
Introduction
Spinal hydatid cyst is a parasitic infection brought about by the Echinococcus genus of tapeworm. In this study, the focus is on a singular case where the cyst manifested itself in a way similar to an IDEM (tumor inside the spine, but outside the spinal cord). The condition presented as cauda equina syndrome, a critical condition where the bundle of nerve roots at the end of the spinal cord are damaged.
Case Presentation
- The patient in focus was an 11-year-old boy, who exhibited symptoms of cauda equina syndrome.
- The initial radiological examination indicated a presumed diagnosis of neurofibroma, which is a benign nerve sheath tumor.
- However, during surgical intervention, the presence of multiple cystic lesions and severe arachnoiditis (inflammation of the arachnoid, one of the thin layers surrounding the brain and spinal cord) hinted at a different diagnosis.
Surgery and Findings
- A dissection in the plane of the supposed cyst led to the flushing out of the cystic lesion.
- The surgical area was then treated with 3% saline to cleanse the region.
Diagnosis and Conclusion
- The definitive diagnosis was only confirmed postoperatively through histopathological findings and serum tests, which provided evidence of a hydatid cyst.
- The researchers concluded that hydatid cyst can also cause cauda equina syndrome, and its diagnosis may be complicated due to the similarity of the cyst to benign tumoral lesions in radiological examinations.
- The article suggests the need to maintain a high index of suspicion, especially for young patients from the Indian subcontinent, owing to the high incidence of the disease in this region.
Cite This Article
APA
Singh S, Sardhara J, Singh AK, Srivastava AK, Bhaisora KS, Das KK, Mehrotra A, Sahu RN, Jaiswal AK, Behari S.
(2016).
Spinal intradural hydatid cyst causing arachnoiditis: A rare etiology of cauda equina syndrome.
J Craniovertebr Junction Spine, 7(4), 282-284.
https://doi.org/10.4103/0974-8237.193257 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
References
This article includes 14 references
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Citations
This article has been cited 11 times.- Fonseca JM, Borba LR, Chiaretti AS, Resende MC, Fonseca Junior LE. Spinal Intradural-Extramedullary Neurocysticercosis: A Case Report. Cureus 2025 May;17(5):e84397.
- Sattouf M, Abboud F, Daradkeh B, Darkaznli M, Alharahsheh M, Altwiny A. Hydatid cyst as a cause of lumbar radiculopathy: A case report. Int J Surg Case Rep 2025 Jun;131:111363.
- Ahmadi SM, Meibodi KT, Raeesi N, Bitaraf MA, Iranmehr A. Incidentally diagnosed multiple intradural extramedullary spinal hydatidosis in a young adult: A case report and review of the literature. Clin Case Rep 2023 Jul;11(7):e7691.
- Selahi Ö, Kuru Bektaşoğlu P, Somay A, Çelikoğlu E, Gürer B. Primary Hydatid Cyst of Lumbar Paravertebral Muscle. Asian J Neurosurg 2022 Dec;17(4):661-663.
- Padayachy LC, Ozek MM. Hydatid disease of the brain and spine. Childs Nerv Syst 2023 Mar;39(3):751-758.
- Sioutis S, Reppas L, Bekos A, Soulioti E, Saranteas T, Koulalis D, Sapkas G, Mavrogenis AF. Echinococcosis of the spine. EFORT Open Rev 2021 Apr;6(4):288-296.
- Kankam SB, Kheiri G, Safavi M, Habibi Z, Nejat F. Isolated primary spinal epidural hydatid cyst in a child with progressive paraparesis. Childs Nerv Syst 2021 Oct;37(10):3261-3264.
- Mugge L, Caras A, Miller W, Buehler M, Medhkour A. A Successful Outcome Despite Delayed Intervention for Cauda Equina Syndrome in a Young Patient with a Posterior Epidural Disc Extrusion. Cureus 2019 May 11;11(5):e4645.
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