A study of 36 cases of vertebral and spinal cord hydatidosis seen between 1970 and 1984 allowed their division into three groups: those with purely intravertebral lesions, vertebral hydatid osteopathy, and hydatid pseudo-Pott's affections. The contribution of conventional radiology is reviewed at length and the importance of computed tomography emphasized for screening of extension and surveillance of "white cancer", a term applied by Deve to bone hydatidosis. Use of the scanner for CT imaging makes screening for residual or recurrent lesions a radiologic exploration.