Spinal cystic echinococcosis--a systematic analysis and review of the literature: part 1. Epidemiology and anatomy.

• Published in: PLoS Neglected Tropical Diseases
• Main Authors: Andreas Neumayr, Francesca Tamarozzi, Sam Goblirsch, Johannes Blum, Enrico Brunetti
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2013
• Subjects: Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270; Arctic
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pntd.0002450; https://doaj.org/article/e729b52e4fd041f79e755657037e1dc7

Bone involvement in human cystic echinococcosis (CE) is rare, but affects the spine in approximately 50% of cases. Despite significant advances in diagnostic imaging techniques as well as surgical and medical treatment of spinal CE, our basic understanding of the parasite's predilection for the spine remains incomplete. To fill this gap, we systematically reviewed the published literature of the last five decades to summarize and analyze the currently existing data on epidemiological and anatomical aspects of spinal CE.