Giant hepatic hydatid cyst as a cause of small bowel obstruction

• Published in: The American surgeon Vol. 72; no. 5; pp. 405 - 408
• Main Authors: SANDONATO, Luigi, CIPOLLA, Calogero, PETRI, Sergio Li, CIACIO, Oriana, GALIA, Massimo, CANNIZZARO, Fabio, LATTERI, Mario Adelfio
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Atlanta, GA Southeastern Surgical Congress 01.05.2006; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Abdomen; Aged; Albendazole - therapeutic use; Antiprotozoal Agents - therapeutic use; Biological and medical sciences; Case studies; Cysts; Diseases caused by cestodes; Drug Therapy, Combination; Echinococcoses; Echinococcosis, Hepatic - complications; Echinococcosis, Hepatic - diagnostic imaging; Echinococcosis, Hepatic - drug therapy; Echinococcosis, Hepatic - surgery; General aspects; Helminthic diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Intestinal Obstruction - etiology; Intestine, Small; Liver; Male; Medical sciences; Medical treatment; Mortality; Parasitic diseases; Patients; Physical examinations; Small intestine; Surgery; Tomography, X-Ray Computed; Liver; Parasitosis; Hydatid cyst; Helminthiasis; Small intestine; Obstruction; Cestode disease; Infection; Medicine; Treatment; Surgery; Cause; Echinococciasis
• ISSN: 0003-1348; 1555-9823
• DOI: 10.1177/000313480607200508

Today, giant hydatid cysts are fairly rare even in endemic areas. We describe a case of an extremely large hydatid cyst of the liver that was causing massive compression of the neighboring organs, giving rise to a subocclusive syndrome of the intestine. After considering the various approaches available for the treatment of this disease, it was decided that radical surgery was still the best therapeutic choice, especially when extremely large cysts are involved. In particular, in clinical situations where it is difficult to perform radical surgical procedures, less aggressive surgery followed by drug treatment should be the treatment of choice.