Combined chest wall and liver hydatid cyst

Abstract

The most common location of a hydatid cyst (HC) is the liver, followed by the lungs and other organs. Hydatid cysts in the anterior chest wall are an exceedingly rare complication and much rarer if it is associated with liver HC. A 53-year-old man presented to our clinic with a painless anterior chest wall mass (ACWM). Thoraco-abdominal computed tomography revealed simple cystic masses localized in the ACWM in subcutaneous tissue with no invasion of the peripheral soft tissue and no pulmonary or rib involvement. An echinococcal indirect hemagglutination test was negative. Dermoid cyst was considered as a diagnosis and the encapsulated masses were dissected through its plane in peripheral tissue adhesion and removed completely. Macroscopic and microscopic examination of the specimens confirmed hydatid cysts. Further organ evaluation revealed the liver hydatid cyst. The patient was referred for surgery where he underwent laparotomy and drainage of cyst content and capitonaged into peritoneal cavity. This case report demonstrates that hydatid cysts should be considered as a possible cause for palpable lesions in the chest wall, especially in endemic locations.