Hydatid disease of the submandibular gland

ABSTRACT

Echinococcosis is a tissue infection of the human caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus or E. multilocularis. Hydatid cyst of the head and neck region is uncommon and involvement of the salivary glands, especially the submandibular gland, is very rare. In this article, a case of submandibular gland hydatid cyst is reported in a patient who presented with swelling of this area of 5 months' duration. Examination revealed a soft, nontender, mobile mass measuring 7x5 cm. Chest x-ray and abdominal ultrasonography were normal. Excision of the mass was performed and pathologic examination revealed a hydatid cyst of the submandibular gland