Background: Hydatid disease is a zoonotic infection caused by a parasitic infestation by a tapeworm, Echinococcus, most commonly involving the liver and lungs. Subcutaneous site involvement is rare and has been reported in 1.6% of cases till date.
Case presentation: We present a 45-year-old male with a swelling in the right axillary region for years with a recent increase in size and association with fever and pain. The patient was diagnosed as hydatid cyst intraoperatively treated with complete surgical excision and standard medical therapy with an anthelmintic drug, albendazole.
Conclusion: Hydatid cyst should be considered as a differential diagnosis in subcutaneous cysts to avoid rupture, subsequent anaphylactic reactions, and recurrence.
Key words: Hydatid cyst disease, Echinococcosis, Echinococcus granulosus, axillary abscess, subcutaneous localization
|
