Primary hydatid disease of the spleen alone is very rare, even though 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. 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. Hydatid disease, a zoonosis, occurs worldwide but it is endemic in farming and cattle rearing areas. We report a case of histologically confirmed primary hydatid cyst of spleen in a 34 years old male. This case report emphasises that hydatid disease should be considered in the differential diagnoses of all cystic masses in the spleen/ abdomen.

Keywords: Hydatid disease, Spleen, Echinococcus.

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Dr Amit Das

Pathologist, Indian Armed Forces Medical Services