Brain hydatidosis: report on 117 cases

Among a series of 155 brain hydatid disease patients hospitalized between 1 965 and 1998, 117 were children. The mean age was approximately 7.2 years, with a slight male predominance. Eighteen patients presented with another v isceral localization. Symptoms and signs of intracranial hypertension are c urrently encountered (75%) followed by hemiparesis, epilepsy, mental chang es, skull deformities and, more rarely, dyskinetic phenomenon. Brain hemisp heric localization is the rule, with some exceptions. CT scans reveal an in tra-parenchymal lesion with clearly defined, rarely enhanced margins. Medic al treatment has virtually no place in the management of cerebral solitary cyst. Albendazole has been used in cases of multiple involvement, with cont roversial results. Surgical hydrostatic expulsion is the only effective tre atment. Recovery is expected when the cyst is extracted completely unruptur ed.