Giant Primary Hydatid Cyst of Spleen—A Rare Clinical Entity

Abstract

Hydatid cyst (echinococcosis) is a zoonotic disease, caused by infestation of larval form of parasite of tapeworm, Echinococcus granulosus (eg). Humans are infected through faeco-oral route by the ingestion of food and milk, contaminated by dog faeces containing the ova of parasite or by direct contact with dog. Liver is the commonly involved organ (57.8%) followed by the lungs (26.4%). The kidneys, spleen, brain, soft tissues of neck, appendix and mesentery are less frequent sites. This case report describes the management of a huge primary hydatid cyst of spleen in a 58-year-old female by en bloc splenectomy. A 58-year-old female patient presented with complaining of pain abdomen and lump in left hypochondrium FPR 6–7 months of duration. Per abdominal examination was in favour of splenomegaly. Patient was further investigated by ultrasound (USG) abdomen and computed tomography (CECT) abdomen and finally diagnosed as a case of large primary hydatid cyst. She was treated surgically by en bloc splenectomy with preoperative and postoperative antihelminthic drugs. Complete en bloc resection of spleen is reserved for gold standard treatment for primary hydatid cyst of spleen as it results in complete removal of all parasite and parasitic tissue from the body. Hydatid cyst of spleen is a rare disease but it should be considered as a differential diagnosis in each case of splenic cyst especially in those geographical regions where the disease is endemic. Once diagnosed a splenic hydatid, surgical management by splenectomy is a gold standard treatment.

Keywords: Hydatid cyst, splenectomy, Echinococcus granulosus

Cite this Article

Pipal DK, Kothari S et al. Giant Primary Hydatid Cyst of Spleen—A Rare Clinical Entity. Research & Reviews: Journal of Surgery. 2016; 5(3): 21–24p.