Recurrent Spinal Hydatid Cyst: A Histopathologic Case Report

Hydatid disease is a parasitic infection that primarily affects the liver and lungs, but spinal involvement is very rare. We report a case of recurrent primary vertebral and paravertebral hydatid cysts and discuss the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges associated with this condition. A 48-year-old woman with a history of spinal hydatidosis resection involving the T2 to T7 and T11 to the distal lumbar spine 8 years earlier presented with mid-back pain and intermittent fever. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed two masses, measuring 21 mm and 22 mm, located at the anterolateral border of the T3 vertebral body and in the adjacent soft tissues. The patient underwent spinal revision surgery, and histopathological evaluation confirmed the diagnosis of hydatid cysts. Since spinal hydatidosis is associated with high morbidity and is often misdiagnosed, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of spinal cystic lesions, particularly in regions endemic for echinococcosis.