[Cerebral hydatic cysts in children].

Background: Brain cysts caused by Echinococcus granulosus are rare; they occur during childhood in endemic areas.

Patients: Six children, aged to 8.5-years old (mean age: 5.5 years) were admitted from 1989 to 1994 because they suffered from progressive intracranial hypertension. The brain CT-scan showed typical features of supratentorial, unilocular (four cases) or multilocular (two cases) cysts. Three children had positive serological test; two had another cyst into their lung or liver and the third had generalized cysts. This last patient died post-operatively while the five others recovered after excision of cysts.

Conclusion: Any progressive intracranial hypertension in endemic areas requires brain CT-scan that clearly identifies the cyst and its location.