Gradual and complete delivery of a hydatid cyst of the brain through a single burr hole, a wrong happening!

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral hydatidosis is a rare larval infection of the central nervous system affecting mostly the children and young adults.

CASE REPORT: The authors report a case of a 5-year-old girl harboring a large right frontoparietal hydatid cyst. The imaging studies were not diagnostic for 'cerebral hydatidosis' and were interpreted as 'brain abscess'.

DISCUSSION: Attempting for simple cannulation of the lesion through a burr hole drained a clear fluid. The cannula was removed promptly but the cyst wall came out little by little through the hole in a single piece which turned out to be the entire wall of a hydatid cyst. She was treated by antihelmintic medications for 6 months and there has been no sign of recurrence after a year. Odd paraclinical imaging characteristics and unique accidental surgical event makes this case the first reported pediatric brain hydatidosis with spontaneous complete delivery of the cyst through a single burr hole which can certainly be considered a wrong attempt if undertaken intentionally.