Case report

Laparoscopic resection of a primary hydatid cyst of the adrenal gland: a case report

Gianlorenzo Dionigi¹ , Gianpaolo Carrafiello² , Chiara Recaldini² , Fausto Sessa³ , Luigi Boni¹ , Francesca Rovera¹ and Renzo Dionigi¹

¹  Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy

²  Department of Radiology, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy

³  Department of Human Morphology, University of Insubria, Varese, Italy

author email corresponding author email

Journal of Medical Case Reports 2007, 1:61doi:10.1186/1752-1947-1-61

Published:	6 August 2007

Abstract

Background

Echinococcosis rates vary in different parts of the world. Italy is regarded as a middle to high risk country with over 1,000 cases requiring surgery each year. Liver (45–75%) and lung (10–50%) are the most frequent locations of this parasitosis.

Case presentation

The authors report a clinical case of a 62 year old woman, admitted to hospital with left flank pain. Plain radiographs of the abdomen, ultrasound, CT and MRI scans were performed and the presence of a 3-cm lesion of the left adrenal gland was demonstrated. A diagnosis of hydatid cyst was made. The patient underwent transabdominal laparoscopic left adrenalectomy. Histopathological examination confirmed the presence of a hydatid cyst in the left adrenal gland.

Conclusion

A hydatid cyst was correctly diagnosed on the basis of radiologic findings. The uncomplicated cyst was successfully resected using a laparoscopic approach. The pathological features of this case are presented in this paper.