RESUMO
OBJECTIVES: The authors present the various imaging features of renal hydatid cyst and define the place of the various imaging modalities. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This retrospective study was based on 41 cases of renal hydatid cyst treated between 1989 and 2003, including 19 men and 22 women with a mean age of 32 years. KUB x-ray was performed in every case, ultrasound was performed in 39 cases, computed tomography (CT) was performed in 13 cases and MRI was performed in 3 cases. RESULTS: The preoperative diagnosis of renal hydatid cyst was established in 39 cases (95%), based on ultrasound in 31 cases (75%), CT in 5 cases (12%) and MRI in 3 cases (7%). The diagnosis was confirmed histologically in 41 cases. CONCLUSION: The diagnosis of renal hydatid cyst is often simple in hydatid endemic countries and is based on a combination of KUB-ultrasound. CT constitutes the second-line examination, which should be reserved for complicated cysts. MRI is the modality of choice in the case of atypical forms ensuring the differential diagnosis with serous cyst and cystic renal cancer
