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 axilla. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a lobular cystic mass localized in the right pectoralis major muscle, with no significant invasion of the peripheral soft tissue or bone structures and no pulmonary or hepatic involvement. An echinococcal hemagglutination test was positive. Excision of the cystic mass as definitive therapy and histopathologic examination of the resected specimen confirmed that it was a hydatid cyst. For treating hydatidosis in uncommon sites, the cyst must be totally removed whenever possible. The combination of albendazole and praziquantel seems to be the most effective medical treatment, but not an alternative to surgery. This case report serves to demonstrate that hydatid disease should be borne in mind as the possible cause of a palpable lesion in the breast, axillary region, or chest wall, especially in endemic locations. Received: June 27, 2000 / Accepted: March 6, 2001