Primary hydatid cyst of the pancreas.
BACKGROUND
Hydatid cyst of the pancreas is rare, accounting for less than 1% of the various sites of hydatid disease, even in countries where echinococcosis is endemic. We report a case of pancreatic hydatid cyst to increase awareness for this important condition.


METHODS
We describe a 33-year-old male with abdominal discomfort of one-year duration. On abdominal examination, there was mild tenderness with fullness in the right upper quadrant. Laboratory investigations revealed no abnormalities. Abdominal ultrasonography showed a cystic mass over the head of the pancreas. Abdominal CT scan confirmed the presence of a solitary cyst in the pancreatic head, with no enhancement on contrast CT. Indirect hemagglutination test for hydatid disease was negative. A pre-operative diagnosis of cystic neoplasm of the pancreas was made and laparotomy was done; on exploration there was a cystic mass arising from the head of the pancreas. A pericystectomy was carried out and the diagnosis of hydatid cyst of the pancreas was confirmed by histopathology. The postoperative period was uneventful and no recurrence was seen after 2 years of follow-up.


CONCLUSIONS
Pancreatic hydatidosis, though very rare, should be considered in the differential diagnosis of pancreatic cystic lesions in the appropriate epidaemiological setting.
Heis
H A
HA
Department of Surgery, King Abdullah University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid-Jordan.
Bani-Hani
K E
KE
Elheis
M A
MA
D000328:Adult; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010182:Pancreatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000469:parasitology* / Q000601:surgery*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed