Isolated renal hydatid disease: varied presentations, treatments, dilemmas, and the way ahead: case report series

Background Hydatid disease is an infectious disease that affects several organs. Isolated renal involvement is very rare. The treatment for renal hydatid cyst ranges from minimally invasive percutaneous aspiration techniques to laparoscopic and open techniques. We describe five cases of isolated renal hydatidosis with varied presentations who were treated successfully by various methods. Case presentation The presenting symptoms included flank pain (n = 5), mass abdomen (n = 2), and hydaturia (n = 1). In 4 patients, the diagnosis of a hydatid cyst was known preoperatively, but one patient with a preoperative diagnosis of a simple cyst was found to harbor hydatidosis intra-operatively. Eosinophilia as a marker for the active disease was present in 60% (3/5), while echinococcal serology was positive in only 25% (1/4). Two cases were approached laparoscopically, while three required an open approach. Two patients were treated with nephrectomy due to the high bulk of the disease, while the other three underwent renal preserving cyst excision. Conclusions The presence of eosinophilia in the preoperative workup may indicate an infective/active hydatid disease. Echinococcal serology is representative of past hydatid infection but cannot reveal about current disease status. Cysts with varied attenuations and residence in an endemic region may support a renal hydatid cyst diagnosis. A holistic approach including clinical history, laboratory parameters, and imaging is needed for diagnosis. Surgical treatment requires cyst excision, along with precautions to prevent spilling. Nephrectomy may be preferred in cases with minimal residual function.