Unusual localizations of hydatid disease: a 18 year experience

The Authors report their experience with rare localizations of hydatid cysts during a period of 18 years. In 8 patients (14%) other organs than liver or lungs were involved: in particular one case of hydatid cyst of the spleen, one of the pancreatic area and one of the soft tissue of the back presented as primary locations. In 5 patients the disease of the liver was associated to hydatid cysts in other sites: 3 multiple peritoneal localizations, one in the abdominal rectus muscle and one of the gallbladder. Four cases (10% of the patients with liver disease) of cyst ruptures in the biliary tree were reported. In all cases differential diagnosis was more challenging than usual, but imaging devices combined with immunobiological tests could solve the diagnostic problem. Surgical treatment was as radical as possible considering the benign character of the disease. Postoperative results were satisfying: no recurrence but one was found at follow up.