MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING IN INTRADURAL AND EXTRADURAL SPINAL ECHINOCOCCOSIS

The potential of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the evaluation of spinal hydatidosis has not yet been fully explored. Only a few sporad ic case reports have demonstrated interesting capabilities for detecti on of cystic echinococcal lesions in and around the spine, but to our knowledge none has described the MRI findings in intradural hydatid cy sts. We present two cases of hydatid disease of the spine with extradu ral and intradural involvement illustrating the value of MRI in the pr eoperative evaluation, operative planning, and immediate postsurgical results.