Hydatid Cyst of Ovary: A Case Report

Echinococcus granulosus is considered the major cause of hu-man hydatid cysts. usually the duration of cyst formation is 10-20 years. this period shortens significantly upon rupture of a primary cyst. the literature describes low incidence of primary involvement of ovary as a site of hydatid cyst formation. our case is the first report on ovarian hydatid cyst in iran. a 60-year-old woman was presented with abdominal pain in the left lower quadrant area. paraclinical data were suggestive of neo-plasia and preoperative diagnosis was ovarian tumor. during laparotomy, multiple cysts resembling hydatid cysts were ob-served in the left ovary. pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of hydatid cyst. although there is a small possibility of secondary ovarian echinococcal disease, it is more probable for this case to be primary infection, as the patient had devel-oped ovarian hydatid cysts 15 years after hepatic involvement and recurrence after 30 months is very uncommon.iran j med sci 2009; 34(1): 76-79.