What is splenic hydatid cyst?
Hydatid cysts are caused by a tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. They usually occur in the liver. When occurring in spleen they present with vague symptoms which make it difficult for the physicians to diagnose.
What is splenic hydatid disease?
Hydatid disease is endemic in farming areas but occurs worldwide. The most common site of disease is the liver, followed by the lungs, kidney, bones and brain. Other sites such as the heart, spleen, pancreas and muscles are very rarely affected.
How serious is a cyst on the spleen?
Although a significant percentage of splenic cysts are asymptomatic, larger cysts may cause vague upper abdominal pain as a result of capsular distention or pressure on adjacent organs. Major complications like hemorrhage into the cyst or peritonitis secondary to cyst rupture are rare.
What are the symptoms of a cyst on the spleen?
Often, true splenic cysts are asymptomatic and found incidentally. When symptomatic, patients may complain of vague upper abdominal fullness and discomfort, early satiety, pleuritic chest pain, shortness of breath, left back or shoulder pain, or urinary symptoms due to compression of the left kidney.
How do you treat a cyst on your spleen?
Superficially located cysts should be treated by laparoscopic marsupialization or fenestration. Cysts located deep in the poles of the spleen should be managed by partial splenectomy, which is the treatment of choice. Laparoscopic partial splenectomy should be performed by experienced surgeons.
Can splenic cysts cause pain?
Among splenic cysts lymphangioma is very rare and often subcapsular, having calcified mural lesions (9). Based on the size of the cyst, the patient may experience symptoms of abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, thrombocytopenia, diarrhea and complications such as infection, rupture or hemorrhage (10, 11).