Hepatic Hydatid Cyst: A Case Report

Abstract

Hydatid cysts are caused by an infestation with larval tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus. The disease is endemic in developing countries but has rarely been reported from immigrant workers in Korea. This paper reports a case of hepatic hydatid cyst in a 27-year-old female. She was referred with abdominal pain that had persisted for the past 2 months. The patient was a foreign worker from Mongolia. The physical examination was unremarkable, and blood tests showed peripheral blood eosinophilia and elevated liver enzymes. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a well-circumscribed cystic mass with septation in the liver. A surgical resection was performed for complete removal. After uncomplicated postoperative recovery, the patient was discharged with albendazole 400 mg twice daily. The hydatid cyst is an important disease that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic lesions in the liver, particularly in those who have lived in endemic areas. A correct early diagnosis based on the typical image findings is important for early treatment before the rupture of the cyst, which is associated with low morbidity and mortality. A current surgical resection combined albendazole are effective treatments for hepatic hydatid cysts, associated with low recurrence rates.

Keywords

• hydatid cyst
• echinococcus
• albendazole
• eosinophilia