Primary hydatid cyst of the axillary region: Report of a case

A 53-year-old woman presented to our hospital with a painful mass in her ax illa. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a lobular cystic mass localized i n the right pectoralis major muscle, with no significant invasion of the pe ripheral soft tissue or bone structures and no pulmonary or hepatic involve ment. An echinococcal hemagglutination test was positive. Excision of the c ystic mass as definitive therapy and histopathologic examination of the res ected specimen confirmed that it was a hydatid cyst. For treating hydatidos is in uncommon sites, the cyst must be totally removed whenever possible. T he combination of albendazole and praziquantel seems to be the most effecti ve medical treatment, but not an alternative to surgery. This case report s erves to demonstrate that hydatid disease should be borne in mind as the po ssible cause of a palpable lesion in the breast, axillary region, or chest wall, especially in endemic locations.