Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2009 Oct;24(10):1161-5.
doi: 10.1007/s11606-009-1062-1. Epub 2009 Jul 25.

Differential diagnosis and management of a recurrent hepatic cyst: a case report and review of literature

Kurt Scherer  1 , Nishant Gupta, Winston P Caine, Mukta Panda
Affiliations
Review

Differential diagnosis and management of a recurrent hepatic cyst: a case report and review of literature

Kurt Scherer et al. J Gen Intern Med. 2009 Oct.

Abstract

Echinococcus granulosus, which causes cystic echinococcosis, is an uncommon condition in the United States. We report a case of a 78-year-old Caucasian female who presented to her primary care physician in 1999 with right upper quadrant pain. She had a history of frequent foreign travel. Abdominal imaging demonstrated a 12.5-cm hepatic cyst. The cyst was drained and the pathology report on the fluid indicated no bacterial, parasitic, or malignant etiology. Serology tests for Entamoeba and Echinococcus antibodies were negative. The patient underwent multiple hepatic cyst aspirations until 2008 for recurring symptoms. In 2008, abdominal imaging demonstrated solid internal components within the cyst. Repeat Echinococcus antibodies ordered were abnormally elevated. Cyst aspiration demonstrated Echinococcus protoscolex. We report this case to discuss the diagnosis and management of hydatid cyst and to emphasize that with increasing globalization, physicians must maintain a high index of clinical suspicion for parasitic etiologies in patients with hepatic cysts.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Abdominal ultrasound May 2008. Inferior right hepatic lobe 13 × 12.7 × 11.4 cm cystic lesion with solid internal components (arrow).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Abdominal computed tomography scan May 2008. Right hepatic cyst unchanged since prior examinations (arrow).
Figure 3
Figure 3
Acid fast bacillus stain June 2008. Degenerating (arrow).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

Similar articles

See all similar articles

Cited by

See all "Cited by" articles

References

    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'DOI', 'value': '10.1186/1752-1947-1-61', 'is_inner': False, 'url': 'https://doi.org/10.1186/1752-1947-1-61'}, {'type': 'PMC', 'value': 'PMC1965466', 'is_inner': False, 'url': 'https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC1965466/'}, {'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '17683613', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17683613/'}]}
    2. Dionigi G, Carrafiello G, Recaldini C, et al. Laparoscopic resection of a primary hydatid cyst of the adrenal gland: a case report. J Med Case Reports. 2007;1:61. - PMC - PubMed
    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'DOI', 'value': '10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2007.08.023', 'is_inner': False, 'url': 'https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2007.08.023'}, {'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '18501821', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18501821/'}]}
    2. Sheng Y, Gerber DA. Complications and management of an echinococcal cyst of the liver. J Am Coll Surg. 2008;206(6):1222–3. - PubMed
    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'DOI', 'value': '10.1007/s00261-007-9331-0', 'is_inner': False, 'url': 'https://doi.org/10.1007/s00261-007-9331-0'}, {'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '17912581', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17912581/'}]}
    2. Czermak BV, Akhan O, Hiemetzberger R, et al. Echinococcosis of the liver. Abdom Imaging. 2008;33(2):133–43. - PubMed
    1. {'text': '', 'ref_index': 1, 'ids': [{'type': 'PubMed', 'value': '15305685', 'is_inner': True, 'url': 'https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15305685/'}]}
    2. Tiseo D, Borrelli F, Gentile I, Benassai G, Quarto G, Borgia G. Cystic echinococcosis in humans: our clinic experience. Parassitologia. 2004;46(1–2):45–51. - PubMed
    1. None
    2. Mishra SK, Satyprakash MVS, Mahesh N, et al. Hydatid cysts of the liver complicating with inferior venacaval thrombous and right ventricular outflow obstruction, posted for emergency laporotomy. Internet J Anesthesiol. 2008;16:1.