# Primary Subcutaneous Hydatid Cyst of the Abdominal Wall in a Child: A Case Report and Literature Review

## TL;DR

A rare case of a subcutaneous hydatid cyst in a child's abdominal wall is reported, highlighting the need to consider this condition in endemic regions.

## Contribution

This case report adds to the limited literature on primary subcutaneous hydatid cysts in children without associated visceral disease.

## Key findings

- The cyst was completely excised without complications and treated with albendazole.
- Literature review found very few pediatric cases of subcutaneous hydatid cysts without visceral involvement.
- The case emphasizes the importance of considering hydatid disease in subcutaneous masses in endemic areas.

## Abstract

Hydatid disease is a parasitic infection that can affect almost any organ, with a clear predominance for the liver and lungs, while primary involvement of subcutaneous tissue is exceptionally rare. We report the case of an eight-year-old boy from an endemic region who presented with a slowly growing, painless mass in the right iliac fossa, without systemic symptoms. Ultrasound revealed a well-defined, purely cystic lesion consistent with a Gharbi type I hydatid cyst. Thoracoabdominal CT scan showed no additional hydatid localizations, particularly in the liver or lungs. The lesion was completely excised through a right iliac fossa approach without intraoperative complications, and albendazole therapy was administered. A review of the literature identified only a small number of abdominal wall hydatid cysts located in the subcutaneous tissue, with very few paediatric cases and most associated with concomitant visceral disease. This case illustrates that hydatid disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any subcutaneous cystic mass in patients from endemic areas, even in the absence of hepatic or pulmonary involvement.