A rare primary occipitocervical hydatid cyst in a 13-year-old girl: a rare case report from Syria

Cervical hydatid cysts are extremely rare manifestations of Echinococcus granulosus, typically occurring in the liver or lungs. Their atypical appearance presents difficulties in diagnosis and may divert physicians from considering parasite causes. We report the case of a 13-year-old female who exhibited a painful occipitocervical mass; she came from an endemic area. Imaging revealed a clearly defined cystic lesion; no hepatic or pulmonary involvement was observed. The cyst was surgically removed without any complications. Postoperative albendazole medication was delivered for 4 months, resulting in no adverse hepatic effects and no recurrence during the follow-up period. This case highlights the diagnostic significance of early multimodal imaging (ultrasound and computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging) for evaluating atypical masses in the neck. Primary cervical hydatid cysts in endemic regions must be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic neck diseases.