Primary hydatid disease of the axilla presenting as a cystic mass

Abstract

Hydatid cysts is most often characterized by hepatic and pulmonary involvement, but it also rarely involves other body parts and systems. Axillary involvement by hydatid cysts is considerably rare in countries with endemic hydatid cyst manifestation, and cases from countries like Turkey are still widely reported. A young woman aged 24 years was seen at our clinic for a painful axillary mass. She was detected by a thoracoabdominal tomographic examination to have a localized multilocular cystic mass in her left axillary region; the mass showed little soft tissue invasion at its periphery but no hepatic or pulmonary involvement at all. It was excised from its stalks and totally removed. The diagnosis of hydatid cyst was made by macroscopic and microscopic examination. It was highlighted by this case report that the differential diagnosis of palpable masses in axillary region should include hydatid cyst, particularly in areas where the disease is endemic.