What Is a Hydatid Cyst?

What is a hydatid cyst?

Hydatid cyst disease is an infestation caused by tapeworm parasites of the Echinococcus family. It is primarily a disease of carnivorous animals such as dogs, wolves and foxes. Humans, as intermediate hosts, become infected through contact with eggs spread into the environment in the feces of infected animals.

How is the cyst transmitted?

The disease can be transmitted by eating food contaminated with parasite eggs or, in people who work with livestock, through direct contact with material containing cysts. It is not transmitted from person to person.

Which organs does hydatid cyst disease affect?

Hydatid cyst disease most often affects the liver. It can also occur in the lungs, spleen, brain and abdominal cavity. As the cysts grow, they press on the surrounding tissue and cause various complaints.

How is it diagnosed?

Cysts are usually discovered on imaging performed for other reasons. On imaging they may have a typical hydatid cyst appearance or may look like a simple cyst. If a hydatid cyst is suspected, the diagnosis is confirmed with a blood test.

Can the cysts rupture?

Spontaneous rupture is very rare; rupture usually occurs as a result of trauma. Large cysts can open into the bile ducts, causing fever, jaundice, abdominal pain and elevated liver enzymes. In addition, the cyst contents are allergenic. Exposure to a large amount of cyst fluid can lead to severe allergic reactions and can be life-threatening. Furthermore, if the cyst contents spread into the abdominal cavity, widespread disease develops, which makes treatment more difficult.

How is the disease treated?

The main treatment is removal of the cyst from the body without breaking its integrity. This can be done surgically or, for early-stage cysts, by draining the cyst contents under ultrasound guidance and rinsing the cavity with alcohol. For advanced cysts, medication can be used to kill the parasites within the cyst. The treatment of cysts located outside the liver is entirely different.

At İzmir Özel Can Hastanesi, hydatid cyst disease is diagnosed and treated by specialist physicians in general surgery, radiology and infectious diseases who have extensive scientific knowledge, skill and experience in their fields, and the most appropriate treatment approaches are applied. Please contact us for information and appointments.

References

1-Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Health – https://www.saglik.gov.tr/TR,4076/kist-hidatik-kistik-ekinokokkoz.html

2-Arie Regev et al. – https://www.uptodate.com/contents/diagnosis-and-management-of-cystic-lesions-of-the-liver