THE ROLE OF MEBENDAZOLE IN THE SURGICAL-TREATMENT OF CENTRAL-NERVOUS-SYSTEM HYDATID-DISEASE

Although hydatid disease is the most common human disease caused by he lminths, cerebral and spinal involvement in hydatid disease is rare. R ecurrence is common when cysts rupture during surgical removal. The au thors present the results of combined treatment with surgery and meben dazole in four cerebral and fi ire spinal cases of hydatid disease. Th e patients' ages ranged between 4 and 55 years with a mean of 26 years . In three of the four cranial patients who received mebendazole treat ment, the cysts ruptured during surgical removal. Four of the five spi nal cases had recurrent disease at the time of admission. Mebendazole was started immediately after surgery and continued over 12 months. Al l cases but one ape stable clinically or radiologically at a mean 27 m onths follow-up period.