V08_No_1_Print_3.pdf


Pictorial Urology

12 Urology Journal   Vol 8   No 1   Winter 2011

Isolated Renal Hydatid Cyst Managed With Partial 
Nephrectomy

Urol J. 2011;8:12.
www.uj.unrc.ir

A 35-year-old woman presented with left upper quadrant abdominal pain for one year. There were no 
gastrointestinal symptoms. Ultrasonography showed a cystic lesion in the left renal area. A computed 
tomography scan revealed a 10.5 cm × 9 cm × 8.5 cm heterogeneous cystic mass, occupying the superior 
pole of the left kidney. There were areas of calcification in the lower portion of the cyst. The cystic mass 
was abutting the tail of the pancreas, and was wedged between the splenic hilum, the upper pole of the 
left kidney, and the tail of the pancreas. There were no other similar intra-abdominal lesions.

Her investigations were unremarkable, except enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay that was positive for 
Echinococcus granulosus. She was started on albendazole, 1 week pre-operatively.

After decompressing the cyst, Betadine 10% was instilled, which was then re-aspirated. Thereafter, the 
patient underwent a partial nephrectomy. Her postoperative recovery was uneventful. She was advised to 
continue albendazole for 4 weeks after the surgery.

Isolated renal hydatid cysts are rare, with treatment being primarily surgical.(1) Various modalities can be 
chosen, based on the size of the cyst, location, and physician’s expertise. There have been a few reports 
of laparoscopic nephrectomy (2) and retroperitoneal excision of the cyst.(3) However, in our patient, the 
sheer size and proximity to the collecting system precluded safe laparoscopic excision, without spillage.

John S Banerji, Antony Devasia   
               Department of Urology, Christian Medical College, Ida Scudder Road, Vellore, Tamil Nadu, India

E-mail: johnsbanerji2002@yahoo.co.in

REFERENCES
1. Gögüs Ç, Safak M, Baltaci S, Türkölmez K. Isolated renal hydatidosis: experience with 20 cases. J Urol. 2003;169:186-9.

2. Shah K, Ganpule A, Desai M. Isolated renal hydatid cyst managed by laparoscopic transperitoneal nephrectomy. Indian J 
Urol. 2009;25:531-3.

3. Khan M, Sajjad Nazir S, Ahangar S, Farooq Qadri S, Ahmad Salroo N. Retroperitoneal laparoscopy for the management of 
renal hydatid cyst. Int J Surg. 2010;8:266-8.