Hydatid cyst of the kidney: Diagnosis and treatment

Renal echinococcosis is relatively uncommon compared to liver and lung loca lizations, Kidney involvement represents 4% of confirmed cases of hydatid d isease. We reviewed the clinical findings of a personal series of renal hyd atidosis with emphasis on diagnostic and therapeutic issues. A total of 178 renal cysts were collected over a period of 33 Sears from 1963 to 1996. Cl inical, radiologic and laboratory data are analyzed. Radiologic exploration has had an interesting evolution, with the appearance of ultrasonography a nd computed tomography. Diagnostic accuracy has been greater since the avai lability of ultrasonography and immunologic studies. Their contribution to the diagnosis of renal hydatid disease is important. We try, with our exper ience of ultrasonography in the matter of renal hydatid cysts, to underline the role of this exploration. The treatment of hydatid cyst of the kidney is surgical. Renal-sparing surgery, cystectomy plus pericystectomy, is poss ible in most cases (75%). Nephrectomy (25% of cases) must be reserved for d estroyed kidneys resulting from aged cysts opening into the excretory cavit ies and complicated by renal infection. Whether conservative or radical, th e first surgery performed is cystectomy,,vith germinate membrane removal af ter controlled evacuation and opening of the cyst, making the subsequent st eps of surgery easier.