Magnetic resonance imaging features of recurrent spinal hydatidosis

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study is to retrospectively investigate the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) features of recurrent spinal hydatidosis and distinguish the MRI features between recurrent spinal hydatidosis and primary spinal hydatidosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen patients with spinal hydatidosis disease who underwent surgery and pathological diagnosis from July 2014 to January 2018 were selected. Nine cases recurred postoperatively and had complete imaging and clinical data. RESULTS: Compared with the MRI features of primary spinal hydatidosis, the MRI features of postoperative recurrence of spinal hydatidosis were as follows: most of the typical features of the primary lesion disappeared, with no obvious outer membrane wrapped around the lesion, and high-intensity signal “small vesicles” were seen on T2-weighted image (T2WI). Most vesicles had no obvious “grape-bunch”-like change and no typical polycystic structures. The vertebral bone destruction area and surrounding soft tissue structures were unclear, and there was no low-signal arc-like calcification on T1WI and T2WI. Recurrent lesions usually appeared as multiple lesions with significant distance from each other, and single clusters formed by multiple lesions were uncommon. Intervertebral disc involvement is a long-term destructive feature. CONCLUSION: Postoperative recurrence of spinal hydatidosis has prominent MRI features, which can provide a more comprehensive and reliable imaging diagnosis basis for postoperative recurrence of spinal hydatidosis.