Orbital hydatid cyst: review of 10 cases

Echinococcosis represents one of the most common human parasitoses in some geographical areas. Orbital involvement is extremely rare.

In the records of our Medical University Centre between 1984 and 2006, we found 10 cases of orbital hydatid cyst.

Among them, 6 males and 4 females; the ages ranged from 2 to 60 years and 7 cases (70%) were less than 12 years of age. The main symptoms of orbital hydatid cyst were slowly progressive unilateral proptosis (100%) with visual loss (90%). The presumptive diagnosis was made on the images obtained from computed tomography and/or magnetic resonance imaging. Surgical removal was the main treatment; although, it is frequently complicated with cyst rupture and spillage of the contents. For this reason, we adopted the technique of cyst puncture with irrigation. A postoperative antihelminthic treatment has always been used.

Hydatid cyst is an endemic disease in Morocco. Orbital involvement should be considered in the differential diagnosis of proptosis especially in children known to have been in affected geographical areas.