Spinal hydatid cyst causing neural foraminal widening

We describe a case of 62-year-old woman whose major complaints were back pain radiating to the legs and progressive weakness in the lower limbs. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed spinal and paraspinal hydatid cysts causing neural foraminal widening, dumbbell appearance and spinal cord compression. The cysts were removed surgically. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.