The records of 100 children with hydatid disease were reviewed retrospectiv
ely from 1978 to 1997; 43 were girls and 57 were boys. The mean age was 9.1
4 years; 61 patients had 124 hepatic cysts. Presenting symptoms were asympt
omatic abdominal masses, found masses incidentally during ultrasonography (
US), or acute abdomen. Plain X-ray films, US, or computerized tomography (C
T) are sufficient for diagnostic evaluation in endemic areas. In the differ
ential diagnosis, laboratory investigations such as the Casoni and Weinberg
tests, indirect hemagglutination, eosinophilia, and ELISA were also used.
These tests may give negative results, however, in some patients with hydat
id disease. The mean follow-up time was 10.5 years (range 1-18 years), the
mean duration of hospitalization 7 days. The complication rate was 3.6%. Mo
rtality was 3.27% and occurred after the administration of formaldehyde and
hypertonic scolicidal agents. Hydatid disease of the liver can be treated
medically in selected patients; conservative surgical approaches that save
as much parenchyma as possible, such as partial cystectomy and capitonnage,
are indicated in the other cases.