Alveolar hydatid disease of the brain. Report of four cases

Four cases of alveolar hydatid disease of the brain encountered within 27 months in eastern Turkey are reported. All of the patients were male farmers who presented with signs of cerebral tumor. Two of the patients were shown to harbor hepatic lesions and one of them had pulmonary metastases. The cerebral lesions were removed in toto and neurological recovery was obtained in all four patients. A review of the literature revealed only five previously reported cases treated surgically. It is concluded that cerebral Echinococcus multilocularis lesions are amenable to surgery, and that their removal provides useful prolongation of life despite the presence of hepatic or pulmonary disease.