• Mariswamappa Kiran, Chandrachari Komal Prasad, Bhatjiwale Mrudul, and Kumar Shishir.
• Department of Neurosurgery, Narayana Health, Bengaluru, India. Electronic address: kiranmam2000@gmail.com.
• World Neurosurg. 2021 Feb 1; 146: 171-176.

BackgroundCraniovertebral junction (CVJ) hydatid disease, although rare, forms an important differential diagnosis of CVJ bony pathologies, especially in endemic areas due to the sheer volume of cases presented there. The authors report a rare case of CVJ hydatid disease mimicking a bony expansile tumor on imaging.Case DescriptionA 21-year-old woman presented with a left-sided neck tilt and pain for 3 months, intermittent low-grade fever, and features of high cervical myelopathy (Nurick grade II). Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography imaging showed a solid enhancing mass with numerous small cystic areas with bony erosion of the basiocciput, C1 and C2 vertebrae, suggestive of an expansile bony lesion (osteoblastoma/giant cell tumor/aneurysmal bone cyst). She underwent a posterior approach for decompression and spinal fixation, and multiple clear grape-like cysts were encountered that were confirmed to be hydatid cysts on histopathology. All visible cysts were excised and instrumented fusion of the CVJ performed. Albendazole was continued for 6 weeks and at 3 months' follow-up, the patient remains asymptomatic with no recurrence on imaging.ConclusionsThe authors conclude that in tropical regions, hydatid disease of the cervical spine should be considered in the differential diagnosis of patients presenting with high cervical compressive myelopathy, especially when associated with fever. Spinal hydatosis may mimic a bony lesion on imaging and should be kept in mind, as in addition to routine decompression, use of scolicidal agents and intact removal of cysts have a significant effect on reducing the recurrence rate and improving the outcome.Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

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