An unexpected etiology of a subcutaneous mass: hydatid cyst.

Abstract

Hydatid disease is a parasitic infestation that is caused by the cestode Echinococcus granulosus (E. granulosus) that has a higher prevalence in South American, Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and East Asian countries. Humans are incidental intermediate hosts because of the ingestion of embryonated eggs in food contaminated with dog feces. In humans, the liver and the lungs are the most commonly affected sites of the body; the other sites include the peritoneum, spleen, kidney, uterus, and pancreas [[1]]. A solitary subcutaneous hydatid cyst is extremely rare. In a different series, the frequency of subcutaneous tissue involvement was approximately 2%; however, primary lesions without secondary damage to any organs have been very rarely reported [[2]]. We herein present an unexpected and uncommon etiology of a subcutaneous cyst diagnosed as a hydatid cyst, which might be of interest to surgeons.