Hydatid cysts in the mesocolon mimicking peritoneal pseudomyxoma in a post-appendectomy patient: A case report

We aimed to present a case of two mesocolonic hydatid cysts that mimicked the presentation of peritoneal pseudomyxoma. Hydatidosis is a zoonotic parasitic infection caused by the cestode Echinococcus spp., whose larval stage affects various organs. The present case describes a 40-year-old male patient who presented with severe lower abdominal pain and was diagnosed with acute appendicitis. The patient underwent an appendectomy and was later referred to an oncology surgery clinic because of imaging findings suggestive of peritoneal pseudomyxoma or carcinomatosis. A video-assisted laparoscopic procedure revealed two cysts and microscopic findings confirmed hydatid cysts. The patient was from a hydatidosis-endemic region of southern Brazil. This case highlights the diagnostic challenges and the need for a multidisciplinary approach and careful histopathological analysis in patients with complex abdominal conditions. This also demonstrates the importance of disseminating knowledge about this condition and its management.