Abstract

1.1.  Background: Hydatid cyst is a rare parasitic infection that can involve almost all organs caused by tapeworms of the genus Echinococcus. It is endemic in sheep-raising and cattle-raising areas worldwide. The most common site of involvement is liver followed by lungs. The orbital involvement as a rare location, associates with 0.3 % – 2 % of prevalence.

1.2.  Case presentation: Herein, we report the case of a 6-year-old boy with slowly progressive proptosis of his right eyeball of 8 months duration, with recent progressive diminution of vision for 2 months. The presumptive diagnosis of hydatid cyst was based on the clinical finding, the life-style of the patient, and the diagnostic imaging techniques that showed a cystic lesion in the intraconal space of the right orbit. Surgical removal was carried out; the cyst was enucleated via fronto orbital approach. Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of hydatid cyst. The patient remained disease free with regular follow-up for 2 years.

Conclusions: Orbital hydatid cyst should be included in the differential diagnosis of unilateral proptosis. The treatment is surgical excision followed by the systemic use of Albendazole

Keywords

Orbit, hydatid cyst, proptosis, orbital-MRI, neurosurgery, Albendazole, Echinococcus granulosus, Hertel’s exophthalmometer, leukocytosis