title: Paraplegia associated with spinal hydatid cyst: a case report.
abstract: METHODS
  Case report.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report a case with paraplegia caused by spinal hydatid cyst.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Hydatid cyst is a disease caused by larval Echinococcus granulosus tapeworm. Spinal hydatid cyst rarely leads to severe neurologic problems.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 34-year-old male patient was referred to our outpatient clinic due to back and low back pain, progressive weakness and numbness in both lower extremities, and a prediagnosis of lumbar disc hernia. He had spastic paraplegia, and thorax magnetic resonance imaging revealed a lobulated cystic lesion with extradural intraspinal localization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After surgery and following 2 months of rehabilitation program, the patient showed a dramatic clinical improvement.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By this case, it is emphasized that spinal hydatid cyst should come to mind in the differential diagnosis of spinal cord compression, and the importance of prevention, early diagnosis, and treatment is highlighted because of high mortality and morbidity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Ankara Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. ccelik@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Canan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.forename: Munevver Fatma
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Sasmaz
authors.forename: Fugen
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Oktay
authors.forename: Halil
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ucan
authors.forename: Erkan
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaptanoglu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D007796:Laminectomy; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D013117:Spinal Cord Compression / Q000209:etiology* / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery; D013904:Thoracic Vertebrae / Q000601:surgery; D016896:Treatment Outcome