Clinical and Molecular Evaluation of a Case of Giant Primary Splenic Hydatid Cyst: A Case Report

Spleen is an unusual location for hydatid cyst. Here we report a case of primary splenic hydatid cyst in a 41-yr-old Iranian woman from Yasuj, southwest of Iran. The patient had been admitted to Shahid Beheshti Hospital because of abdominal pain. Abdominal sonography revealed a hypoechoic lesion of 150 X 130 mm in the spleen, suggestive of hydatid cyst. Splenectomy was performed for the patient and surgical interventions revealed a hydatid cyst occupying most of splenic parenchyma. She was discharged on the 5 day of her operation. Postoperative diagnosis and confirmation of hydatid cyst was done by histopathological, molecular and serological approaches. Histopathological evaluation revealed the classical laminated layer of hydatid cyst. DNA was extracted from a part of cyst and PCR amplified. Sequencing and analysis of PCR product revealed that the isolate has the most similarity with G1 strain of Echinococcus granulosus. Patient's serum was positive for IgG anti-hydatid cyst antibodies, using antigen-B ELISA.