Hydatid Disease in the Gallbladder: A Rare Location

Abstract

Hydatid cysts, a zoonosis, are endemic to certain geographical regions. These cysts occur most frequently in the liver and lungs. While a hydatid cyst can occur almost anywhere, a primary hydatid cyst of the gallbladder is very rare. A 68-year-old male was admitted to the emergency service with a 2-day history of increasing abdominal pain. The physical examination showed widespread tenderness and guarding, and Murphy’s sign was positive. Following ultrasound examination, the patient underwent surgery with a preliminary diagnosis of acute cholecystitis. A primary hydatid cyst of the gallbladder was detected, and the patient underwent a cholecystectomy. A primary hydatid cyst of the gallbladder has not been diagnosed previously with gallbladder disease; in such a case, there are no cysts at any location other than the gallbladder. This paper presents a rare case to emphasize the difficulty of diagnosing a primary hydatid cyst of the gallbladder preoperatively. J Med Cases. 2016;7(12):522-523 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc2501w