RESUMO
Although splenic involvement alone in hydatid disease is very rare, spleen is the third most common organ involved in hydatid disease. The rarity of splenic hydatid disease poses a diagnostic challenge for clinicians, particularly in non-endemic areas. As the hydatid cyst can present as a simple cyst without having the classic serological and imaging features, and later can lead to life-threatening complications like anaphylaxis, hydatid disease of spleen should be considered in differential in every patient in endemic areas with cystic lesion of spleen until proved otherwise. The author used the keyword "splenic hydatid cyst" in PubMed and reviewed the scientific literatures published from January 1965 to June 2012. The present review is to accentuate the incidence, classification, clinical and pathophysiological features, differential diagnosis, diagnostic modalities, and treatment choices of hydatid cyst of spleen along with follow-up strategy and newer treatment approaches.
RESUMO
Although splenic involvement alone in hydatid disease is very rare, spleen is the third common organ involved in hydatid disease. It is endemic in cattle rearing areas but occurs worldwide. The rarity of splenic hydatid disease poses diagnostic challenge for clinicians. The case is presented as the investigation in the beginning which induced confusion among experienced clinicians but subsequently diagnosis of splenic hydatid cyst with peritoneal dissemination was confirmed by laparoscopy and histopathological examination. Hydatid disease of spleen should be considered in differential in every patient in endemic area with cystic lesion of spleen until proved otherwise as the hydatid cyst can present even as simple cyst without having classic serological and imaging features.
