A Pancreatic Hydatid Cysts Causing Recurrent Acute Pancreatitis Mimicking a Pancreatic Pseudocyst: A Case Report

Hydatid disease is a zoonotic disease, mainly prevalent in endemic countries. The liver and lungs are the most commonly affected organs in hydatid disease. Primary hydatid cyst of the pancreas is rare, and pancreatitis due to hydatid cyst has rarely been listed in the literature. Hydatid cyst of the pancreas is difficult to diagnose preoperatively. It can be misdiagnosed as a pseudocyst of the pancreas. We report the case of a 32-year-old female patient who presented with recurrent acute pancreatitis. Following preoperative imaging, the primary impression was a pancreatic pseudocyst. On further evaluation with endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine needle aspiration (FNA) and hydatid serology, she was diagnosed with a pancreatic hydatid cyst. Laparoscopic partial pericystectomy was performed. In literature, pancreatic hydatid cysts were mainly treated with a traditional open surgical approach. A minimally invasive surgical approach is evolving as an option in selected cases of pancreatic hydatid cysts.