Pancreatic Head Hydatid Cyst: An Unusual Case

Abstract

Introduction: Pancreatic hydatid cyst (PHC), a rare parasitic infectious disease, is caused by the larvae of Echinococus granulosus. Commonhumanorgansaffectedbythehydatidcystaretheliverandlunge,butitrarelyinvolvesotherorganssuchasthepancreas. Case Presentation: A rare case is reported of a patient with a pancreatic head hydatid cyst. The result of the patient’s preliminary serologicalsurveyswasnegativeandthepancreaticlesionwassuspectedtobeapseudocystorcysticpancreaticneoplasms. Follow-ing complete excision of the lesion, the pathological analysis of the surgical specimen confirmed hydatid disease. Conclusions: Pancreatic hydatid cysts may be confused with more common lesions of the pancreas such as pseudocysts and cystic pancreatic neoplasms. Physicians should always consider this disease in the differential diagnosis, especially for patients from endemic areas.