[Splenic hydatid cyst. Case report of a pregnant woman]

Hydatid disease is caused by larvae of the platyhelminth parasite called Echinococcus; it generally lodges in liver and lung, and less commonly in spleen. In Mexico, hydatid disease has a very low frequency; only few cases of lung disease have been reported. In this paper, case of a 7 weeks pregnant female patient with a simple cyst in spleen identified by ultrasound and tomography is reported. The patient underwent splenectomy. Diagnosis of hydatid cyst was confirmed by histopathology. This case suggests that hydatid disease should be considered as differential diagnosis in every patient with a cystic mass of the spleen.