Acute lower limb ischemia due to femoropopliteal embolism of hydatid cyst

In addition to the liver, human hydatidosis has been reported in the lung, brain, abdominal viscera, muscles, and heart chambers. Infarction of the brain has also been documented. Arterial embolism of the lower extremities by hydatid cyst, however, is extremely rare. In the presented case, acute ischemia of the patient's left leg led to gangrene and amputation. Complete workup for localization of the primary focus of hydatid cyst was inconclusive; however, the most probable explanation is spontaneous rupture of a left ventricular wall hydatid cyst which subsequently embolized to the aorta and lodged in the left femoral artery