Purpose: Cerebral hydatid disease is very rare, represents only 2% of all cerebral space occupying lesions even in the countries where the disease is endemic.The aim of this study is to describe the discriminative computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance ( MR) imaging features of cerebral hydatid disease.

Over the 13-year period (1990-2002), a total of18 patients with cerebral hydatid disease were evaluated retrospectively at our institution. They were 12 male and 6 female patients ranging in age from 7 to 50 years with an average age of 21.8 years. The average age of patients with cystic echinococcosis was 20.2 years. The unique case of alveolar echinococcosis was 48 years old.In seven cases the lesions were only examined by CT and in three others only by MR. In eight cases the lesions were...

Most of the patients were children, 13 patients aut of 18 ( 72.2 % ) between 7 and 15 years of age. There was a substantial prevalence of male patients-12 cases ( 66.7 % ). Among our patients, there were 17 cases of cystic echinococcosis ( E.granulosis ) and 1 case of alveolar echinococcosis ( E. multilocularis ). The most common clinical findings were headache, vomiting, seizures and visual disturbances. Papilloedema was seen in 14 patients ( 77.7 % ). There were extracerebral organ involvement...

CT and MR imaging, alone or in combination, are helpful in the diagnosis of cerebral hydatid disease. Although CT is superior in detecting calcification of the cyst wall or septa, when present, MR is better in detecting multiplicity and defining the anatomic relationship of the lesion with the adjacent structures and helps in surgical planing. MR provides additional information and details that can not be seen by CT. It provides additional information in the exactlocalization of the cyst. When present, in complicated or recurrent disease,...

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Yaar BKTE M.D., Assist Prof. 1_ Serdar KEMALOLU M:D., Assist Prof.2_ Hasan NAZAROLU M.D., Assist Prof.1_ Aur UYAR M.D., Assoc.Prof.1_Cihan Akgl M.D., Resident1_ Masum MEK M.D., Prof.11 Department of Radiology and 2 Neurosurgery, Dicle University, Diyarbakr / TRKYEEmail: [email protected]