A Giant Primary Hydatid Cyst of Spleen – A Case Report

Hydatid cysts are caused by a tapeworm echinococcus granulosus. It is endemic disease in cattle-rearing areas of south America, Africa, Middle east, South Europe, India, Australia and New Zealand. The life cycle of echinococcus includes a definitive host dog and intermediate host is sheep, goats or swine. Humans are incidental hosts.

The most common site of disease is the liver 60-70%, followed by lungs 30%, spleen, kidney, pancreas, bones, brain and muscles are rarely affected. Spleen is the third most common organ involved in hydatid cyst disease. Berlot in 1790 was the first to describe splenic hydatid cyst as an autopsy finding. Hydatid cyst of spleen is a very rare clinical condition as even in the endemic region, the incidence reported is to be 0.5-4% of abdominal hydatid diseases. Primary splenic hydatid cyst is very rare and account for 2% of the patients.

The majority of treatment for a splenic hydatid cyst is surgery. To lower the risk of sepsis, patients should obtain vaccinations against pneumococcal, haemophilus influenzae, and meningococcal infections at least two weeks before and again after surgery. This is medical prophylaxis with albendazole.

Here in we report a rare case of huge splenic hydatid cyst successfully managed surgically. 20 years old female patient with the complaints of left hypochondriac pain and huge splenomegaly. There was history of pet dog handling and we performed total open splenectomy.