Pelvic echinococcosis

Abstract

Introduction: Pelvic hydatid cysts (PHC) are rare and only a few sporadic cases have been reported. Aim: The purpose of this study was to describe the cases of primary and secondary PHC in female patients. Materials and Methods: Patients diagnosed with PHC over a 10 year period were identified from the comprehensive surgical database of our institution. The age, symptoms, previous surgeries, initial diagnosis, diagnostic modalities, current operation, and recurrences were surveyed. Results: There were three patients with the mean age of 20.7 ± 5.6 years (range from 14 to 32). All patients had no history of surgery for hydatid disease. They presented chronic pelvic pain and on physical examination had a pelvic mass. The diagnosis of PHC was suspected preoperatively in one patient. All patients were treated surgically via Pfannenstiel incision. The PHC location was the uterus (n=2) and ovary (n=l). Unroofing (or partial cystectomy) was performed in 2 patients and complete cystectomy in one. The postoperative course was uneventful in all cases. Chest radiography and abdominal computed tomography did not reveal any other site of hydatid disease involvement (n=2, primary PHC). One patient (secondary PHC) was scheduled in the surgical department for treatment of hepatic cystic echinococcosis. Conclusions: Pelvic hydatid disease is rare and its diagnosis is often difficult preoperatively. Hydatid cyst should always be considered in the differential diagnosis of abdominal-pelvic masses in endemic regions of the world. The mainstay treatment is surgery.