Surgery of the pancreatic cystic echinococcosis: A case report

Abstract

The prevalence of pancreatic cystic echinococcosis (PCE) is ranging between 0.2% and 0.6%. This video article aimed to present a case of isolated PCE that simulated a mucinous cyst. A 55-year-old man consulted for epigastric pain considered as an acute pancreatitis regarding the high level of lipasemia. The preoperative diagnosis, according to Computed Tomographic scan and magnetic resonance imaging, was pancreatic cyst evoking an Intra ductal Papillary Mucinous Neoplasm. The diagnosis of PCE located in the body and tail was recognized intraoperatively. A spleno distal pancreatectomy (radical surgery) was performed. The main “take away” lesson from this case is that diagnosis of PCE is easy when it is associated with liver CE; it becomes difficult when PCE was isolated simulating other diagnosis. The therapeutic decision depends on the PCE location: conservative surgery for the head of the pancreas and radical surgery for body and/or tail of the pancreas and surgeons should take care for the dissemination of echinococcosis.