Update on human bone hydatid disease

Abstract

Hydatid disease is public health problem worldwide causing considerable health and economic loss. The disease may develop in almost any part of the human body. Bone involvement is often asymptomatic and diagnosis is primarily based on radiographic findings. Bone hydatidosis is less frequent than primary hydatidosis of the visceral organs. The localization of hydatid cysts in the bones has been little studied and so there is inadequate information in literature on the subsequent disease evolution from primary hydatidosis. We present a detailed review on hydatidosis of the bony skeleton particularly of patients who normally seek medical attention late. The review underlines the difficulties of diagnosis and treatment of bone hydatid disease and its variants that may be currently under-/mis-diagnosed in disease endemic areas. We hope to stimulate a high index of suspicion among clinicians to facilitate early diagnosis and to consider the disease(s) as a differential diagnosis in cases of multiple abnormal activities in bones especially among middle aged and elderly people in endemic areas. Bone hydatid disease treatment and management is delicate, expensive and risky and in most cases reccur at some point. We therefore advocate for improved active methods of disease prevention in endemic areas