Hepatic Hydatid Cyst Misdiagnosed as Simple Cyst: A Case Report

BACKGROUND Hepatic hydatid cysts is a cystic disease of the liver caused by echinococcosis. Echinococcosis usually forms a monolocular cyst and causes space occupying effect, while alveolar echinococcosis often progresses into a polycystic mass that dilates into the adjacent liver parenchyma, with different clinical manifestations. In clinical practice, hepatic hydatid cyst and simple cyst are generally diagnosed clearly, but there are still misdiagnosed cases. CASE REPORT A 40-year-old female patient with no symptoms had a computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging examination that revealed multiple round-like shadows of varying sizes in her liver. Combined with the laboratory and imaging results, the diagnosis was considered as hepatic hemangioma and hepatic cyst. Therefore, we planned to perform ultrasound guided microwave ablation of hepatic hemangioma and laparoscopic fenestration of hepatic cyst. Considering the possibility of hepatic hydatid cysts during the operation, partial hepatectomy was performed. CONCLUSIONS More attention should be paid to the differential diagnosis of cystic space occupying lesions in the liver. For the treatment of hepatic cyst, if suspected, must change the surgical strategy.