A 4-Year-Old Child with a Giant Cerebral Hydatid Cyst: A Case Report

Aylin Dizi  Işık; Özcan  Sönmez; Pınar Canizci  Erdemli; Eda  Kepenekli; Zeynep  Ergenç; Seyhan  Yılmaz; Sevgi Aslan  Tuncay; Burcu Parlak; Adnan  Dağçınar

doi:10.18502/ijpa.v19i1.15218

Aylin Dizi Işık Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Marmara University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Tü-rkiye
Özcan Sönmez Department of Neurosurgery, Marmara University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Türkiye
Pınar Canizci Erdemli Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Marmara University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Tü-rkiye
Eda Kepenekli Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Marmara University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Tü-rkiye
Zeynep Ergenç Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Marmara University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Tü-rkiye
Seyhan Yılmaz Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Marmara University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Tü-rkiye
Sevgi Aslan Tuncay Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Marmara University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Tü-rkiye
Burcu Parlak Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Marmara University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Tü-rkiye
Adnan Dağçınar Department of Neurosurgery, Marmara University School of Medicine, İstanbul, Türkiye

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/ijpa.v19i1.15218

Keywords: Echinococcosis; Hydatic cyst; Cerebral hydatic cyst

Abstract

Echinococcosis is the most common cestode infection globally caused by the Echinococcus species. The most common organ involvement is the lungs and liver, but other organs can be rarely involved. Here, we present a case with a giant cerebral hydatid cyst. A 4-year-old boy presented with abnormal gait and walking at Marmara University School of Medicine Pendik Training and Research Hospital, Istanbul, Türkiye in September 2022. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging showed a cyst of 13 cm in diameter. The cyst was enucleated successfully with no rupture. Oral albendazole therapy was started. There was no eosinophilia, and the echinococcal indirect hemagglutination test was negative. Ultrasonography detected an anechoic cystic lesion in the liver. He was evaluated for deep-organ involvement; however, no cysts were detected in other organs. The histopathological examination was compatible with a hydatid cyst. Although intracranial hydatid disease in children is rare, it should be considered among the differential diagnoses in patients with neurological symptoms, especially in endemic regions.