CEREBRAL HYDATID CYST IN CHILDREN - EXPERIENCE OF 27 CASES

The authors present 27 cases of cerebral hydatid cyst (CHCy) treated b etween 1980 and 1992. These cases of CHCy represent 2.8% of all cases of expansive nontraumatic lesions in children. Most of the patients we re between 6 and 10 years of age. There was a substantial prevalence o f male patients - 18 cases (66.6%). Most of the children with CHCy wer e from rural areas. The cysts were all located in the cerebral hemisph eres (none in the posterior fossa). Usually two or three lobes were af fected and the cysts were most often retrorolandic. Only 8 patients (2 9.6%) also had pulmonary or hepatic infestation. All patients were ope rated on immediately the diagnosis was established. Operative mortalit y was very low (1 patient died immediately after surgery). There have been 11 cases of recurrence; all these patients have been reoperated o n. Neurological sequelae were mainly partial and general seizures. Epi lepsy developed postoperatively in five patients. Paresis, which usual ly disappears in time, was the most common motor disturbance. Two othe r important postoperative complications were subdural effusion and ven tricular dilatation (six cases). There have been five cases of multipl e recurrences (four of these patients have since died). Treatment with albendazole was used in three cases without significant results.