An audit on pediatric hydatid disease of uncommon localization: incidence, diagnosis, surgical approach, and outcome

Infestation of sites other than the liver and lungs by the parasite Echinococcus granulosus is rarely encountered in clinical practice. The present study aims to determine the incidence of hydatid disease of uncommon localization in children and to document the clinical and radiologic findings, the types of the operations performed, and the postoperative course of the disease. A retrospective review of the demographical data as well as preoperative and postoperative clinical findings of children who underwent surgical treatment of hydatid disease was done. Hydatid disease of uncommon localization was encountered in 15 (7%) of 207 children reviewed. The sites in which the cysts were located were as follows: spleen (n = 4, 1.9%), kidney (n = 4, 1.9%), retroperitoneum (n = 3, 1.4%), omentum (n = 2, 1%), anterior abdominal wall (n = 1, 0.5%), and anterior thigh (n = 1, 0.5%). Radiodiagnostic tools such as ultrasonography were used in all. Partial pericystectomy was the surgical procedure of choice in most cases. There was 1 recurrence in a patient with splenic disease, with no mortality. Pediatric hydatid disease can involve any body part. Radiologic imaging techniques are helpful in diagnosis. Surgery should aim to preserve as much tissue as possible while precautions to prevent recurrences are undertaken.