Laparoscopic splenectomy for solitary splenic hydatid cyst: Case report

Hydatid cyst disease is a parasitic disease caused by a type of tapeworm called Echinococcus. It is endemic to cattle-rearing regions of Africa, Asia, South Europe, the Mediterranean, the Middle East and Australia. The most common site of infection is the liver (75%). Involvement of the spleen is rare and occurs in 5% of the cases. Solitary splenic cysts are even rarer (0.5%-4%). We present a case of solitary hydatid cyst of the spleen in a 47-year-old woman. The cyst was asymptomatic and an accidental find on a full-body computed tomography after epileptic seizure and body trauma. The condition was treated successfully with albendazole, but the patient requested the cyst removed. Laparoscopic splenectomy was performed. The specimen was placed in an Endo-Bag and extracted. The patient recuperated well and was discharged on the post-operative day 5. Six months after the procedure, the patient has no complaints.