Primary intermuscular hydatid cyst: A common disease at unusual location: Case report

Hydatid cyst is a parasitic infection caused by the Echinococcus granulosus and multilocularis species of tapeworm. An intermuscular hydatid cyst is an unusual location for hydatid cyst disease, even in endemic regions. Therefore, intermuscular hydatid cysts might be mistaken for other benign and malignant soft tissue tumors. Magnetic resonance imaging plays a crucial role in diagnosing intermuscular hydatid cysts by showing the typical imaging characteristics of the disease. Here, we report a case of an isolated intermuscular hydatid cyst disease in a 34-year-old man who presented with left posterior thigh swelling of 5 years duration. The diagnosis was established using magnetic resonance imaging, which showed large, well-encapsulated cystic lesions containing multiple daughter cysts of varying sizes, with some cysts containing detached floating membranes. Surgery was performed, together with preoperative and postoperative albendazole treatment.