A solitary primary subcutaneous hydatid cyst in the abdominal wall of a 70-year-old woman: a case report

INTRODUCTION: A solitary primary hydatid cyst in the subcutaneous abdominal wall is an exceptional entity, even in countries where the Echinococcus infestation is endemic. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 70-year-old Caucasian woman who presented to our hospital with a subcutaneous mass in the para-umbilical area with a non-specific clinical presentation. The diagnosis of subcutaneous hydatid cyst was suspected on the basis of radiological findings. A complete surgical resection of the mass was performed and the patient had an uneventful post-operative recovery. The histopathology confirmed the suspected diagnosis. CONCLUSION: Hydatid cyst should be considered in the differential diagnosis of every subcutaneous cystic mass, especially in regions where the disease is endemic. The best treatment is the total excision of the cyst with an intact wall.