[Echinococcal infection of the kidney (author's transl)]

800 echinococcal infections of the kidney have been described in the world literature, nevertheless, here this disease is very rare. As a result of increasing tourism and employment of workers coming from endemic areas, the morbidity rises and the clinical picture gains in importance. A review has been made of epidemiology, life cycle and symptomatology of the cystic echinococcus and the diagnosis, differential diagnosis and therapy of this parasitosis has been discussed with reference to two misdiagnosed cases from our own patients.