Hydatid cyst of spleen: A rare presentation

Abstract

: Hydatid cyst is a parasitic infestation caused by Echinococcus granulosus. The spleen being rarely involved by the parasite, commonly involved organs are liver followed by lungs. It constitutes only 4% of abdominal hydatid diseases. Its worldwide incidence is 0.5 to 4%. In this case report, we present a case of young boy with concomitant splenic and liver hydatid cysts. A 8-year-old boy, resident of Chamba district was presented with abdominal pain, fever and left upper quadrant swelling. The swelling had started enlarging over past 4 months. After necessary investigations it was diagnosed as hydatid cyst of spleen concomitant with liver and was confirmed by histopathological examination of the cyst membrane. All routine investigations other than anemia of 9.4 mg/dl and raised Ecchinococcus IGG serum levels, all other tests were within normal range. Splenic hydatid is a rare entity and among abdominal presentations of hydatid diseases its incidence is very low, being 4% only. Diagnosis can be made on CECT abdomen along with the Echinococcus IGG serum levels, cytology of aspirated cystic fluid and then can be confirmed on histopathological examination of the cyst membrane sent for the histopathological examination. This case report emphasizes the need of considering hydatid cyst as a differential with uncommon presentation of the disease even in non- endemic area, as in this case patient presented with splenomegaly and abdominal pain.