Primary Hydatid Cyst of the Pancreas

Hydatid cyst of the pancreas is rare, accounting for less than 1% of the various sites of hydatid disease, even in countries where echinococcosis is endemic. We report a case of pancreatic hydatid cyst to increase awareness for this important condition. We describe a 33-year-old male with abdominal...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Acta chirurgica belgica 2009-10, Vol.109 (5), p.626-628
Main Authors: HEIS, H. A, BANI-HANI, K. E, ELHEIS, M. A
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Biological and medical sciences
Diseases caused by cestodes
Echinococcoses
Echinococcosis - diagnosis
Echinococcosis - diagnostic imaging
Echinococcosis - surgery
General aspects
Helminthic diseases
Humans
Infectious diseases
Male
Medical sciences
Pancreatic Diseases - diagnostic imaging
Pancreatic Diseases - parasitology
Pancreatic Diseases - surgery
Parasitic diseases
Tomography, X-Ray Computed
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Summary:Hydatid cyst of the pancreas is rare, accounting for less than 1% of the various sites of hydatid disease, even in countries where echinococcosis is endemic. We report a case of pancreatic hydatid cyst to increase awareness for this important condition. We describe a 33-year-old male with abdominal discomfort of one-year duration. On abdominal examination, there was mild tenderness with fullness in the right upper quadrant. Laboratory investigations revealed no abnormalities. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a cystic mass over the head of the pancreas. Abdominal CT scan confirmed the presence of a solitary cyst in the pancreatic head, with no enhancement on contrast CT. Indirect hemagglutination test for hydatid disease was negative. A pre-operative diagnosis of cystic neoplasm of the pancreas was made and laparotomy was done; on exploration there was a cystic mass arising from the head of the pancreas. A pericystectomy was carried out and the diagnosis of hydatid cyst of the pancreas was confirmed by histopathology. The postoperative period was uneventful and no recurrence was seen after 2 years of follow-up. Pancreatic hydatidosis, though very rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic cystic lesions in the appropriate epidaemiological setting.
ISSN:0001-5458
DOI:10.1080/00015458.2009.11680501