Laparoscopic resection of a primary hydatid cyst of the adrenal gland: a case report.
BACKGROUND
Echinococcosis rates vary in different parts of the world. Italy is regarded as a middle to high risk country with over 1,000 cases requiring surgery each year. Liver (45-75%) and lung (10-50%) are the most frequent locations of this parasitosis.


METHODS
The authors report a clinical case of a 62 year old woman, admitted to hospital with left flank pain. Plain radiographs of the abdomen, ultrasound, CT and MRI scans were performed and the presence of a 3-cm lesion of the left adrenal gland was demonstrated. A diagnosis of hydatid cyst was made. The patient underwent transabdominal laparoscopic left adrenalectomy. Histopathological examination confirmed the presence of a hydatid cyst in the left adrenal gland.


CONCLUSIONS
A hydatid cyst was correctly diagnosed on the basis of radiologic findings. The uncomplicated cyst was successfully resected using a laparoscopic approach. The pathological features of this case are presented in this paper.
Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy. gianlorenzo.dionigi@uninsubria.it.
Gianlorenzo
G
Dionigi
Gianpaolo
G
Carrafiello
Chiara
C
Recaldini
Fausto
F
Sessa
Luigi
L
Boni
Francesca
F
Rovera
Renzo
R
Dionigi