title: Extravisceral primary hydatid cyst of the retroperitoneum.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hydatid cyst (HC) continues to be endemic in the Mediterranean countries, such as Turkey. Living in a rural area is an important risk factor for the disease. HC is most commonly seen in the liver and lungs, but retroperitoneal hydatid cyst is very rare. The objective of this study was to evaluate the clinical and radiographic findings and surgical treatment of this unusual lesion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1979 and 2004, 14 cases with primary retroperitoneal hydatid cyst were treated surgically at our clinic.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Symptoms included flank pain in eight (57.1%) and palpable mass in six patients (42.8%). The cyst was located in the right retroperitoneum in seven patients (50%), left retroperitoneum in five patients (35.7%), retrovesical region in one patient (7.1%) and paravesical region in one patient (7.1%). Surgical approaches were right paramedian extraperitoneal approach in four patients, left paramedian extraperitoneal approach in two patients and midline transperitoneal approach in eight patients. Total pericystectomy was chosen as the surgical procedure in all patients except in five (35.7%), who had partial cystectomy for cysts located near the vital structures. There were no complications and mortality postoperatively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A primary HC of the retroperitoneum is a distinct clinical entity that must be considered when caring for a patient with a retroperitoneal mass in endemic regions. It should be treated after the diagnosis is confirmed without any delay because of secondary spillages due to perforations and other possible complications.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, School of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey. bulentaydinli@gmail.com
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Aydinli
authors.forename: Gurkan
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.forename: K Yalcin
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Polat
authors.forename: S Selcuk
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Atamanalp
authors.forename: Isa
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Ozbey
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Onbas
authors.forename: M Nuran
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Akcay
authors.forename: Ahmet A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Balik
authors.forename: Bulent
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Guvendi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012187:Retroperitoneal Space