Multiple primary hydatid cysts in the left thigh

A 51-year-old male patient presented with erythema and swelling in the lateral part of the left knee. He had a history of working with livestock. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed lesions compatible with hydatid cysts in the superolateral part of the left knee and at the adductor muscle group plans (Figure 1). There was no hydatid cyst in the body except in the left thigh. Hydatid cysts were resected, and albendazole treatment (15 mg/kg/day) was administered for 3 months postoperatively.

FIGURE 1:
Coronal (A) and axial (B) fat-suppressed proton density MR images show lesions compatible with hydatid cysts 55 × 25 × 75 mm in the left knee superolateral part and 30 × 25 × 45 mm at the adductor muscle group plans (asterisks).

Hydatid cysts, a zoonotic infection caused by Echinococcus granulosus larvae, is a zoonotic disease of major clinical importance¹. Hydatid cysts are rare in muscle and subcutaneous areas². MRI is considered the best technique for revealing daughter cysts and provides the most appropriate data for planning the surgical approach³. In painless, growing masses, a diagnosis of hydatid cysts should be kept in mind, especially in endemic regions. If possible, total surgical excision should be performed in such patients.

REFERENCES

• ¹
  Aydin Y, Altuntas B, Kaya A, Ulas AB, Uyanık MH, Eroglu A. The Availability of Echinococcus IgG ELISA for Diagnosing Pulmonary Hydatid Cysts. Eurasian J Med. 2018;50(3):144-7.
• ²
  Aydin Y, Ulas AB, Ince I, Korkut E, Ogul H, Eren S, et al. Large Case Series Analysis of Cystic Echinococcosis. Indian J Surg. 2021;83(Suppl 4):S897-S906. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12262-021-03061-0
  » https://doi.org/10.1007/s12262-021-03061-0
• ³
  Ramos Pascua L, Santos Sanchez JA, Samper Wamba JD, Alvarez Castro A, Rodriguez Altonaga J. Atypical image findings in a primary subcutaneous hydatid cyst in the gluteal area. Radiography (Lond). 2017;23(3):e65-e67.

Publication Dates

• Publication in this collection
  24 Oct 2022
• Date of issue
  2022

History

• Received
  08 July 2022
• Accepted
  14 Sept 2022