Subcutaneous Primary Hidatidosis

Abstract

Introduction: The countries in the Mediterranean basin are an endemic zone of zoonosis for Echinococus granulosus. Hydatid cysts have high incidence in the liver or lungs, and the musculoskeletal system is more infrequent.

Objective: To report a case of subcutaneous hydatidosis, concerning diagnosis and treatment of these more infrequent locations of hydatidosis.

Case report: We report the case of a 35-year-old woman of Indian origin who attended outpatient consultations due to a painful mass, about 5 centimeters in diameter, at the level of the anterolateral aspect of the right arm.

Conclusions: When managing a mass at the level of the musculoskeletal system, we must think about the diagnostic possibility of a hydatid cyst. The diagnosis can be certain with imaging tests of the lesion, thus avoiding any invasive technique of the cyst prior to definitive treatment. Concomitant treatment with antiparasitic drugs is recommended, and it is widely used, as the only curative treatment.