The multifaceted musculoskeletal hydatid disease

Abstract

Musculoskeletal hydatid disease is rare and can be located anywhere but most commonly the bone and muscles of the spine, pelvis, then the lower limbs. Imaging is essential for its diagnosis, performing the pre-therapeutic assessment, guiding possible percutaneous treatments, and providing post-therapeutic follow-up. Musculoskeletal hydatidosis can take several forms that may suggest other infections and tumors or pseudotumors. MRI and CT are superior for its diagnosis but ultrasound and radiography remain the most accessible examinations in developing countries where this parasitosis is endemic. In this review, we provide an overview of this disease and describe its different imaging patterns in soft tissue and bone involvement that should be sought to support the diagnosis.

Keywords: Bone; CT; Cystic echinococcosis; Echinococcosis granulosus; Hydatic disease; Hydatidosis; MRI; Musculoskeletal; Radiographs; Soft tissue; Ultrasound.