[Echinococcal cysts of the adrenal glands. Review and diagnostic discussion]

Observation of an exceptional case of hydatid cyst of the suprarenal gland triggered an extensive review of the literature on the subject and an analysis of the disease from a historical-statistical, biological, aetiopathogenic, anatomopathological and clinical point of view. All these were analysed as an aid to diagnosis which is always difficult despite the many effective diagnostic tools now available. The difficulty derives essentially from the rarity of the condition and the fact that its clinical features often appear not to confirm or to underestimate the initial diagnostic suspicion.