Spinal hydatid cyst initially diagnosed as spinal tumor: A case report and review of the literature.

Key Clinical Message: The spinal hydatid cyst is a benign pathology but has considerable morbidity. It should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients having signs and symptoms of spinal compression, particularly in endemic areas. Hydatid cyst is a parasitic infection caused by larvae of Echinococcus spp. Approximately 60%–70% of patients with spinal hydatidosis have lesions in the liver, 15%–20% have lung involvement, and only 0.5%–2% have bone involvement. Primary spinal hydatid cysts account for about 1% of cases. A 38‐year‐old woman with a history of back and chest pain that eventually led to numbness in the abdomen and legs was admitted to Iranmehr Hospital. The patient had a positive family history of hydatid cysts, and her brother had two pulmonary infestations when he was 40 years old. The cyst was not recognizable with MRI, and the patient was first admitted to diagnose a spinal cord tumor. During the surgery, a hydatid cyst was recognized. The cystic lesion was completely removed without any cystic rupture. Spinal hydatidosis is a rare disease with considerable morbidity and poor prognosis. It should be considered as one of the differential diagnoses when approaching a patient with spinal compression syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]