[Spinal hydatidosis: diagnostic and treatment].

Hydatidosis is a parasitic disease due to Echinococcus granulosus. Spinal hytatidosis is the most common form, characterized by high morbidity and mortality. It is often diagnosed only when neurological complications occur, due to the long clinical latency and the non specific nature of symptoms. Standard radiography may show lacunar, areolar abnormalities separated by irregular walls without clear boundaries. Magnetic resonance imagery can reveal hydatic abcess presenting typical liquid abcess and locoregional extension. Laboratory methods are of little assistance to the diagnosis. Complete surgical excision of the lesions remains the only curative treatment, in the same way as for malignant tumors. Surgical eradication of hydatic lesions is difficult, however. Indeed, the surgeon is guided by the macroscopic aspect, but the bone may be infiltrated by microvesicles without clear boundaries. It is now recommended to accompany surgery by medical treatment based on albendazole. Rapid diagnosis and treatment of spinal hyatidosis may yield long-term remission or even cure, especially in localized forms.