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Updated: Jul 12, 2026
Transient Transduction of the Strobilated Forms of Echinococcus granulosus
Published on: September 16, 2022
Primary intramuscular infestation of Echinococcus granulosus misdiagnosed as a soft tissue tumor: a case report
Luigi Insabato1, Gilda Marino, Flavio Fazioli
1Section of Pathology, Department of Biomorphological and Functional Sciences, University of Naples "Federico II", Naples, Italy. insabato@unina.it
Background:
The occurrence of a primary intramuscular infestation of Echinococcus granulosus is extremely rare.
Case:
A 70-year-old woman with primary skeletal muscle hydatidosis initially presented with a soft tissue mass. Clinical and radiologic examination revealed a huge cystic mass in the right quadriceps muscle without any visceral organ involvement. Since the differential diagnosis included a soft tissue tumor, fine needle aspiration cytology was performed, and a diagnosis of hydatid disease was made.
Conclusion:
This very rare case of primary intramuscular infestation of E granulosus was clinically misdiagnosed as a soft tissue tumor. Hydatid disease, albeit rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a soft tissue mass.