Multicystic nephroma masquerading as hydatid cyst: a diagnostic challenge

BACKGROUND: Multicystic nephroma is an uncommon, non-familial renal neoplasm that is usually benign. About 200 cases of this lesion have been described in the literature. CASE PRESENTATION: We report on a Sudanese child who presented at the age of two and a half years with an abdominal mass, clinical and radiological features favored the diagnosis of hydatid cyst which is endemic in this African tropical country, and the diagnosis of multicystic nephroma was only possible after histopathological examination. CONCLUSION: Multicystic nephroma is a rare benign tumour with an excellent prognosis. Clinical and radiological differentiation of multicystic nephroma from hydatid cyst is difficult. Thus, histopathological examination of the surgical specimens seems to be the only feasible method of making the correct diagnosis.