HYDATID-DISEASE OF THE SOFT-TISSUES OF THE LOWER-LIMB - FINDINGS IN 3CASES

Three cases of hydatid disease are reported, all presenting as soft ti ssue lesions in the lower extremities. All three cases were studied wi th ultrasound (US), two with computed tomography (CT), and two with ma gnetic resonance (MR) imaging techniques. Two patients presented with multivesicular lesions which were considered diagnostic of hydatid dis ease. The third patient showed a lesion with a predominantly solid pat tern, closely mimicking a soft-tissue neoplasm. US was not diagnostic, but MR outlined vesicular structures and a fibrous pericyst. Hydatid disease presenting in the soft tissues can therefore be diagnosed with confidence when it shows multivesicular lesions but MR may be the mos t useful imaging technique when a complex or solid pattern is present.