PERCUTANEOUS MANAGEMENT OF LIVER HYDATID CYST CAUSING OBSTRUCTIVE-JAUNDICE

Introduction: Surgical treatment for liver hydatid cyst has been consi dered so far as standard therapy, but has a high recurrence rate as we ll as morbidity and mortality. Case Report: We report a case of a 30-y ear-old Saudi male who presented with obstructive jaundice, secondary to a huge hydatid cyst of the liver of about 20 cm diameter. The cyst was compressing the right lobe of the liver and biliary tree causing t he obstructive jaundice. There was no evidence for rupture of the cyst into the biliary tree; CT-guided percutaneous aspiration and drainage of the cyst was performed successfully. This was followed by irrigati on of the cyst with hypertonic saline via retained intracystic pigtail catheters. Within the first 2 weeks the jaundice was resolved. Combin ed medical therapy of albendazole and praziquantel was also administer ed. The patient showed clear clinical improvement during regular follo w-up. His repeated CT 4 months later showed disappearance of daughter cysts. Conclusion: The case illustrates the possibility of avoiding su rgical management and it illustrates the successful percutaneous manag ement of such a large hydatid cyst causing obstructing jaundice.