Renal Hydatid Cyst Mimicking Renal Cell Carcinoma

Hydatid cyst disease occurs as an isolated infection of the urinary tract in 2-4% of cases. With the rise in immigration from endemic areas into developed nations, reported cases in nations like the United States of America are increasing. Our goal is to shed light on this rare tropical disease in an effort to encourage physicians to include this entity in their differential diagnosis of a renal mass. A 33-year-old man presented for evaluation of chronic flank pain and frothy urine with fleshy white clots. CT and MRI imaging showed a large multilobular cystic renal mass, which was suspicious for renal cell carcinoma. The patient underwent a radical nephrectomy and a pathologic diagnosis of renal hydatid cyst was reached. Symptoms of renal hydatid cyst are highly variable and non-specific. Ultra sonography and CT may be helpful to reach a diagnosis and distinguish this disease from renal cell carcinoma, but supplemental blood work-up is often necessary. Therapy entails a combination of surgical and medical approaches. Renal hydatid disease can be easily confused with the cystic form of renal cell carcinoma Thus, in an effort to shed light on this condition; we have summarized the most distinctive features of renal hydatid cyst disease.