Spinal Paragonimiasis

Spinal paragonimiasis is an uncommon ectopic manifestation of the lung fluke. In this paper eight cases of spinal paragonimiasis treated in the Severance Hospital are reported and the literature is reviewed. Differantial diagnosis is usually difficult because of the similarity of symptoms and signs with benign spinal cord tumors. positive chest X-ray findings, positive skin test and pleocytosis of the spinal fluid, especially of eosinsphils, are valuable findings in the diagnosis. The extradural space in the 1ower thoracic region is the most frequently affected area. Laminectomy with excision of the lesion supported by chemotherapy is the treatment of choice. When treated early, prognosis of this type of manfestation is usually favorable.