Primary Alveolar Hydatid Disease: A Rare Case Series with Review of Imaging Findings

Abstract

Alveolar hydatid disease is a rare but potentially fatal parasitic infection caused by Echinococcus multilocularis. To the best of our knowledge, only few cases have been reported from India till date. We present 6 cases of pathologically proven alveolar hydatid disease with review of imaging findings.
 The objective of this case series was to share our experiences of pitfalls in diagnosis of alveolar hydatid disease.
 Materials and Methods. The study was conducted in Post Graduate Department of Radiodiagnosis and Imaging, Government Medical College, Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir. Our study was conducted between 6th January 2017 to 22nd May 2019. A total of 6 patients were taken up for study. The patients were evaluated clinically and investigated using the relevant imaging modalities. Diagnosis was confirmed by histopathologic examination following core biopsy of lesion.
 Results. There were two males and four females with most of patients in age group of 20 to 40 years. Imaging findings in our cases suggest that typical radiological appearance of alveolar hydatid disease can be summarized as an irregular hypoattenuating mass lesion having typical calcifications (can be peripheral, as well as central) with tiny cystic components.