Parasite: Echinococcus granulosus
Indications for surgery:
(1) removal of a large hepatic cyst with multiple daughter cysts
(2) single hepatic cysts that are superficial and which may rupture easily either spontaneously or after trauma
(3) infected hepatic cysts
(4) hepatic cysts communicating with the biliary tree
(5) hepatic cysts exerting pressure on adjacent vital organs
(6) cysts in lung, brain, kidney, bones or other organs
Contraindications for surgery:
(1) patient refusal
(2) poor surgical risk due to comorbid conditions
(3) age at the extremes (infants and very old)
(4) pregnancy (surgery may be considered after delivery)
(5) multiple cysts within an organ
(6) inaccessible
(7) dead cysts
(8) cysts partially or completely calcified
(9) very small cyst
