Hidatidosis of the spleen

Hydatidosis of the spleen (SH) is an extremally rare condition. The aim of the study was to present our experience and discuss diagnostic methods and therapeutical options in cases of spleen hydatidosis.

Between 1993 and 2008, 8 patients were diagnosed with SH, 6 of whom were operated on (4 males and 2 females). Their average age was 44.5 years (the age range 30-59 years). Four patients presented isolated SH, one had a spleen and liver hydatidosis and there was also a case of one spleen, liver and peritoneal hydatidosis.

The main symptom of the condition was abdominal pain and hydatidosis serology was always positive. The average hydatidisis cyst size was 13.3 cm (range: 7-18 cm). Splenectomy was performed in 5 cases and a partial cystectomy in one case. A left lateral sectionectomy was required in 1 case, a segment III subsegmentectomy was delivered in 1 case and multiple cystectomies in the case of the patient with disseminated hydatisis. In the follow-up period of the above mentioned surgical procedures no mortality among the treated patients was reported. The majority of patients did not present any symptoms of morbidity (4 patients). We registered one wound infection and one cavity abscess solved with percutaneous drainage in the patient following partial cystectomy. The hospitalisation period avaraged to 5 days (within the range of 5 to 12 days). The patients' follow-up was 98 months on average (range: 19-190 months) without any traced relapse.

Total splenectomy is the treatment of choice of SH. Other surgical techniques could be employed in special cases.