A rare primary occipitocervical hydatid cyst in a 13-year-old girl: a rare case report from Syria

Cervical hydatid cysts are extremely rare manifestations of <i>Echinococcus granulosus</i>, typically occurring in the liver or lungs. Their atypical appearance presents difficulties in diagnosis and may divert physicians from considering parasite causes. We report the case of a 13-year-old female who exhibited a painful occipitocervical mass; she came from an endemic area. Imaging revealed a clearly defined cystic lesion; no hepatic or pulmonary involvement was observed. The cyst was surgically removed without any complications. Postoperative albendazole medication was delivered for 4 months, resulting in no adverse hepatic effects and no recurrence during the follow-up period. This case highlights the diagnostic significance of early multimodal imaging (ultrasound and computed tomography/magnetic resonance imaging) for evaluating atypical masses in the neck. Primary cervical hydatid cysts in endemic regions must be considered in the differential diagnosis of cystic neck diseases.