Medical management of abdominal hydatid cyst in a teaching hospital in Eastern Libya: treatment and outcome in 16 cases, 2004–2010

Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for hydatid cyst, but the development of antihelminths has become a boon in the management of the disease. The role of medical management is now well defined, alone or with surgery or percutaneous aspiration, injection and re-aspiration (PAIR). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of antihelminth treatment on 16 selected patients (10 females and 6 males) with hydatid cyst. Hydatid cyst was diagnosed radiologically and treated with albendazole. Patients were followed up for 12 months after completion of therapy. Hydatid cyst collapsed completely in 10 patients; recurrence of cyst during the observation period was recorded in 2 patients. No patient in this study developed side-effects from the treatment. We suggest that albendazole is a safe and effective agent for uncomplicated hydatid cyst and should be advised for any hydatid cyst 5 cm or for surgically inaccessible hydatid cyst.