Some rare presentations of hydatid cyst (Echinococcus granulosus)

Among all the cases of hydatid disease seen in an 8-year period at Asir Central Hospital, Abha, Saudi Arabia, seven cases are reported here because of their unusual presentations. One patient had a brain hydatid cyst which presented as a space-occupying lesion. The second patient presented with symptoms and signs of cardiac tamponade due to pericardial hydatidosis. The third female had multiple abdominal and pelvic hydatid cysts causing vague abdominal pain, chronic ill-health and primary infertility. The fourth case was a huge single hydatid cyst filling the whole abdominal cavity and involving multiple organs. The fifth case presented with simultaneous involvement of the liver, right diaphragm and pleura with hydatidosis. The sixth case involved the left diaphragm and the patient presented with clinical picture simulating pleurisy. The last patient presented with a hydatid cyst of the right thigh. Even though there was no mortality in these patients, there was disabling morbidity. We conclude that Echinococcus granulosus can affect any organ in the body and a high suspicion of this disease is justified in endemic regions. Moreover, medical treatment should precede and follow the surgical intervention.