Giant solitary cerebral hydatid cyst in a child, complicated with post-operative subdural haematoma: case report and review of literature

Abstract

Hydatid disease is a parasitic infestation caused by taenia Echinococcus granulosus that rarely affects the brain. It usually involves all organ systems of the body but is more common in the liver, lungs. We present an eight year old male child presented with a six months history of headache and left sided weakness. After routine investigations including CT scan, craniotomy and cruciate durotomy was done and the hydatid cyst was extirparated whole using Dowling’s technique. Post-operative period was uneventful and the child was discharged home to continue on anti-helminthic treatment. He developed bilateral subdural haematomas one month later, which was treated with bilateral burr hole drainage with complete success, and no neurological deficits.