Abstract

The authors reviewed a series of 7 cases of isolated and primitive hydatid cyst in the peripheral muscles. The disease was mainly diagnosed in young (average age 29.3 years) women of rural origin (87.7%), who consulted for a soft tissue tumor, evolving over at least 6 months, without alteration of the general condition. In 5 of the 7 patients, the tumor was located in the thigh and in 3 cases in the adductors compartment. The diagnosis was highly suspect on sonography. The surgical treatment consisted in a complete resection of the hydatic cyst with surrounding muscle tissue in 6 of the 7 cases, and in a subtotal removal of the surrounding tissues in one case which had adhesions of the surrounding tissues with the femoral vessels. With a follow-up of 19 months, neither clinical nor serological examination showed any recurrence or new sites.