Disseminated pelvic hydatidosis presenting as ovarian carcinomatosis: successful post-operative treatment with mebendazole

The case of a female with disseminated pelvic cystic hydatidosis presenting as ovarian carcinomatosis 2.5 years after repeated abdominal paracentesis is reported. The diagnosis was made during surgery and confirmed by serology and histological examination. Over 100 cysts were removed from the abdominal cavity and wall. Innumerable small cysts studded the viscera; these and larger inaccessible ones were untouched. Medical cure in this patient was achieved with a combination of partial resection and special irrigation, broad spectrum antibiotic for coverage of infectious episodes and high dose long term mebendazole therapy for 25 months. The danger of blind aspiration in patients coming from endemic areas is emphasized.