Title: Giant Solitary Hydatid Cyst of the Spleen - A Rare Presentation
Authors: Dr Nisha Attri, Dr Sushma Kanojiya, Dr Madan Solanki
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v7i2.55
Abstract
Introduction
Hydatid cyst is a zoonotic disease more prevalent in endemic areas. The disease is caused by the larval stage of a tapeworm, Echinococcous granulosus. The primary hosts are, usually dogs and the intermediate hosts are sheep and cattle. Humans are incidental host in the dog-sheep life cycle of Echinococcus granulosus. The hydatid cysts grow upto 5 - 10 cm in size and can be asymptomatic for years or even decades(1). Mostly it is an incidental finding detected by imaging studies(2). Symptoms are usually due to the space - occupying effect of the cystic lesion or complications such as rupture of the cyst(3). Liver and lungs are the commonly affected organs although it can involve any organ(1). Primary infestation of the spleen by the parasite is a rare event and splenic involvement represents less than 2% - 5% of all cases of human hydatid disease reported(3, 4). Splenic involvement may be direct or indirect by the arterial route, once the parasite passes through the liver and lungs. Splenic hydatid cysts are usually solitary. We report on a thirty-year-old female with primary splenic hydatid cyst, which is a rare event.
Keywords: Solitary, splenic cyst, hydatid cyst, Echinococcus granulosus, histopathology.