Hydatid cyst of ovary mimicking ovarian neoplasm with its imprint cytology

BACKGROUND: Hydatid disease, caused by Echinococcus granulosus, is a common parasitic infection of the liver. Disseminated intra-abdominal hydatid disease may occur with the rupture of the hydatid cyst into the peritoneal cavity, producing secondary echinococcosis, but occasional cases of primary peritoneal hydatid disease involving the pelvis have been reported. Occasionally, the cyst does not rupture, but instead enlarges, thus mimicking an ovarian tumour. CASE REPORT: We present a 30-years-old woman with an intra-abdominal hydatid cyst that had no communication with the liver. It is therefore probably a primary case of ovarian hydatid cyst, which is very rare. An imprint smear was also taken, which revealed scolex with hooklets. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of hydatid cyst in the female reproductive system is very low, constituting less than 0.5% of all hydatid cysts. Hence clinicians should consider hydatid cyst among differential diagnosis whenever a cystic pelvic mass is found.