Isolated hydatid cyst of the pancreas masquerading as pancreatic pseudocyst

Abstract

Hydatid cyst of the pancreas is very rare and usually presents with obstructive jaundice. We report a case of a 7-year-old girl with cyst of the pancreas without any obstructive jaundice. The child was treated surgically and hydatid cyst of pancreas was found. Partial pericystectomy was performed. After 1 month on follow-up, the child developed pseudocyst of pancreas, which needed cystogastrostomy. Postoperatively, the child improved and is remaining well after 3 months of follow-up. Hydatid cysts of pancreas are very difficult to diagnose preoperatively and should be kept as a differential diagnosis of cystic intrapancreatic lesions. Serological tests can help in early diagnosis.

Surgery of the pancreatic cystic echinococcosis: systematic review

“…Katkhouda et al (55) reported a PCE of the tail responsible for chronic recurrent pancreatitis which raised diagnostic problems. Chinya et al (18) described a hydatid cyst of the pancreas masquerading as pancreatic pseudocyst. On the other hand, PCE may mimic a cystic tumor during intervention such as a mucinous cystic neoplasia (56).…”

“…PCE associated to CE located in the liver is the frequent situation and diagnosis of PCE is easy to confirm. However, the diagnosis of isolated PCE, in spite of all these imaging features, sometimes hesitates with choledochal cyst (23,28,33), pseudocyst (18,26,30,32,39), cystic neoplasm of pancreas (31,38), and mucinous cystic neoplasm (56).…”

Avoiding the diagnostic pitfalls of a pancreatic cystic lesion

“…[3][4][5][6] Chinya et al and Sorogy et al report a higher involvement of the body of pancreas rather than the tail. 7,8 The clinical presentation depends on cyst location and size, rather than the pathology. Cysts in the head of pancreas can present with obstructive jaundice.…”

“…Enzymelinked immunosorbent assay for echinococcal antigens is positive in more than 85% of cases. 4,7,8 Although surgery is the mainstay of treatment, certain precautions and caveats must be borne in mind. Albendazole (10 mg/Kg/day 12-hourly) should be given before surgery to reduce the risks of anaphylaxis and postoperative recurrence secondary to intraoperative spillage of cyst content, and it should continue postoperatively.…”

Primary hydatid cyst of pancreas: Case report and review of literature

“…Rarely, cysts located in the pancreatic tail can result in splenomegaly and portal hypertension [7] . Complications like cholangitis, rupture into the biliary tree or peritoneal cavity, pancreatic fistula,recurrent pancreatitis and abscess have also been described [8] .…”