Abstract
Primary intramuscular hydatid cysts are uncommon due to the contractile nature of muscles and their lactic acid content. Hydatid cysts with spinal extension are sometimes seen with primary vertebral body involvement. Our patient presented with a slow-growing posterior abdominal wall mass, and upon magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), it was revealed to be several cystic lesions in the abdomen wall with extension through the neural foramina into the spinal canal. The key differentials for spinal canal masses with neural foraminal expansion and muscle involvement are peripheral nerve sheath tumors. Our case report adds hydatid cysts to the differentials for well-defined cysts with variable intensities on MRI.