Liver transplant with a marginal donor graft containing a hydatid cyst--a case report

Liver transplantation has become the standard treatment for acute failure and end-stage liver disease, but there are fewer donor organs available than patients on the waiting list. The donor pool may be increased by using marginal donor candidates. Some infectious and metabolic diseases have been transmitted to the recipient via marginal donor grafts. Hydatid cyst disease is rarely transmitted to a recipient from the donor graft. A literature search showed only 2 previous cases of liver transplantation using a donor graft that contains a hydatid cyst. We treated a 19-year-old woman who experienced acute on chronic end-stage liver failure secondary to cryptogenic cirrhosis. The liver graft from a 97-year-old marginal cadaveric donor contained a calcified hydatid cyst. No complication was associated with the hydatid cyst at 3 years after transplantation. The present case shows that donor livers with an inactive, calcified hydatid cyst may be used for emergency liver transplantation after considering the location, size, and relation of the cyst to vascular and biliary structures. The cyst may be resected on the back table with a successful treatment outcome.