CEREBRAL HYDATIC CYSTS IN CHILDREN

Background. - Brain cysts caused by Echinococcus granulosus are rare; they occur during childhood in endemic areas. Patients. - Six children , aged to 8.5-years old (mean age: 5.5 years) were admitted from 1989 to 1994 because they suffered from progressive intracranial hypertensi on. The brain CT-scan showed typical features of supratentorial, unilo cular (four cases) or multilocular (two cases) cysts. Three children h ad positive serological test; two had another cyst into their lung or liver and the third had generalized cysts. This last patient died post -operatively while the five others recovered after excision of cysts. Conclusion. - Any progressive intracranial hypertension in endemic are as requires brain CT-scan that clearly identifies the cyst and its loc ation.