Our experience in the surgical treatment of peritoneal hydatid disease

The Authors report on a series of 9 patients with peritoneal hydatidosis submitted to surgery during the period between 1974 and 2003. In 5 cases the cyst was solitary, while in 3 patients the cysts were multiple, in 1 spread and in 2 there was a concomitant liver hydatidosis. In 2 patients the disease was asymptomatic, while 4 cases were revealed by pain and 3 by an abdominal mass. The diagnosis was made at the operation in 3 patients, while it was performed by ultrasonography in 1 case, by CTscan in 4 and by both methods in 1. All patients were operated on: 7-underwent total cystectomy and partial cystectomy with external drainage of residual cavity was performed in one; the spread disease was managed by omentectomy, ovariectomy and appendectomy. Postoperative course was regular without mortality and major morbidity in all patients. Two recurrences occurred 71 and 20 months after removal of the primary cysts and they were managed by total cystectomy. The Authors believe that the diagnosis of peritoneal hydatid disease is today more accurate because of the new image techniques and the surgical procedure should be tailored to each patient depending on size, location and complications of the cyst, although the results of radical treatment are better.