Primary Subcutaneous Hydatid Cyst of the Abdominal Wall in a Child: A Case Report and Literature Review

Hydatid disease is a parasitic infection that can affect almost any organ, with a clear predominance for the liver and lungs, while primary involvement of subcutaneous tissue is exceptionally rare. We report the case of an eight-year-old boy from an endemic region who presented with a slowly growing, painless mass in the right iliac fossa, without systemic symptoms. Ultrasound revealed a well-defined, purely cystic lesion consistent with a Gharbi type I hydatid cyst. Thoracoabdominal CT scan showed no additional hydatid localizations, particularly in the liver or lungs. The lesion was completely excised through a right iliac fossa approach without intraoperative complications, and albendazole therapy was administered. A review of the literature identified only a small number of abdominal wall hydatid cysts located in the subcutaneous tissue, with very few paediatric cases and most associated with concomitant visceral disease. This case illustrates that hydatid disease should be considered in the differential diagnosis of any subcutaneous cystic mass in patients from endemic areas, even in the absence of hepatic or pulmonary involvement.