Surgical management of hepatic hydatid cyst in children

The aim of this study was to demonstrate the surgical treatment and outcome of hydatid cyst in liver in children. The age of presentation varied from 8-11 years. All patients had abdominal pain, five had lump in right hypochondrium and three patients had fever. Hydatid cyst serology, indirect hemaglutination test, ultrasonography and CT scan done in all the patients. Histological examination supported the diagnosis of hydatidosis since the cyst wall contains outer laminated and inner germinal layer. All the patients got relief of their preoperative symptoms after surgery. Two patients had positive serology after surgery. Therefore, they were given two additional regimen of albendazole and turned out to be serologically negative. In conclusion, hydatid cyst management in children is not consensual. However, conservative surgery remains the treatment of choice to avoid serious complication in the endemic region of Indian subcontinent.