Abstract and Introduction
Abstract
The most frequent location of hydatid cystic lesions is in the liver (up to 80% of cases), followed by the lung (about 20% of cases), and with lower reported incidence, virtually in any other organ or tissue in the body. Therefore, the case an American medical practitioner would most likely encounter, albeit still rare, is a large, symptomatic liver cyst, similar to the one presented in this report. Current techniques and reasoning concerning optimal treatment of liver hydatid cyst disease are revisited, and recommendations based on available literature regarding ideal management of such cases are presented.
Introduction
Although the challenge of managing echinococcal disease is fairly common in developing countries, a surgeon practicing in the United States (US) will rarely, if ever, encounter this disease. The incidence of hydatid disease in the US is very low, with approximately 200 cases presenting per year.[1] Most cases occur within immigrant populations. Despite the fact that the diagnosis is fairly straightforward, the rarity of the disease and the lack of prospective data in the literature make choosing the optimal treatment challenging. We present the successful management of a case of complex liver hydatid disease, and provide a current review of the therapeutic options available, based on the clinical presentation of the disease.
South Med J. 2011;104(3):222-224. © 2011
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