Splenic recurrence of liver hydatid cyst and spleen preserving therapy

Yardimci S, Ulas M, Surmelioglu A, Bostanci FB
Correspondence: Dr Samet Yardimci, sametyardimci@yahoo.com

ABSTRACT
Hydatid cyst disease remains a considerable public health problem, especially in pastoral and farming regions. Although the spleen is the third most commonly affected organ after the liver and lungs, splenic hydatid cyst is an uncommon entity even in areas that are endemic for echinococcosis. The recurrence rate after surgical therapy of liver hydatid cyst is reported as 6.8–22.3 percent. Recurrences most frequently occur in the liver. Extrahepatic recurrences occur in the lung or peritoneum and the serosa of the abdominal organs. Splenic recurrence of liver hydatid cyst has not previously been reported. The most common surgical therapy is splenectomy, and the other option is spleen preserving surgery. We report the first case of recurrent splenic hydatid cyst in the spleen and liver synchronously after surgical therapy for liver hydatid disease. The patient was treated with liver resection and spleen preserving surgery.

Keywords: hydatid disease, recurrence, spleen, spleen preserving surgery
Singapore Med J 2011; 52(11): e223-e225