Vertebral and pelvic echinococcosis in northwestern China

Echinococcosis remains a major economic and severe public health problem in endemic areas. Bone echinococcosis is rare, and the vertebra and pelvis are the most common sites of echinococcosis involving the skeletal. Because of the clinical severe symptoms and high recurrence rate, it brings excellent trouble to patients.

This study retrospectively analyzed the clinical manifestations, laboratory tests, radiological findings, and treatment of 44 patients with vertebral and pelvic echinococcosis during a period of 16 years (2005-2020).

The mean age was 43 years (25 males, 19 females; 19-68 years). The most common symptom was pain, followed by numbness, weakness, activity limitation, and progressive paraparesis. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test (ELISA) results were positive in 18 cases (75%). There are 24 cases of hydatid infection of the spine, 14 hydatid infection of the pelvis, and six hydatid infection of both vertebra and pelvis. The site of infection was 13 (29.5%) thoracic, five (11.4%) lumbar, four (9.1%) lumbosacral, seven (15.9%) sacral, 19 (43.2%) ilium, seven (15.9%) hip, six (13.6%) ischium, five (11.4%) pubis, and two (4.5%) femur, respectively. The imaging findings were cystic dilatancy, septal, and irregular bone destruction. MRI has a special value in showing the relationship between the surrounding tissues and organs of cystic bone echinococcosis. All patients were followed up for at least one year. The mean follow-up time was 3.6 years.

Even in epidemic areas, the incidence of bone echinococcosis is relatively rare. However, when encountering the vertebral and pelvic destruction, consider bone echinococcosis's possibility, especially for the herdsmen in endemic regions.