Appendiceal hydatid cyst: a case report and review of literature

Hydatid cyst has a predilection to involve liver and lungs. Most of the reported cases of appendiceal hydatid cyst are primary, and secondary involvement has been rarely reported in the English-language literature. Herein, we report a 47-year-old man who presented with abdominal pain, fatigue, and anorexia since 6 months ago. He had history of surgery for hepatic hydatid cyst 7 years ago. Diagnosis of secondary hydatidosis was made upon positive indirect hemagglutination assay and abdominopelvic computed tomography scan, which showed involvement of liver, appendix, and spleen. Albendazole was started, and surgical cystectomy, appendectomy, and splenectomy were performed. Albendazole was continued postoperatively for 6 months. During this period, liver function test and abdominal sonography were normal. Despite its rarity, our case emphasizes that primary care physicians should have high index of clinical suspicion of secondary hydatidosis of appendix when they detect cystic mass, especially in patients with previous hepatic hydatid disease.