Hydatid disease (Echinococcosis) may show local or systemic findings suspicious for a malignancy.
Reasons why hydatid disease may be mistaken for a malignancy:
(1) An exposure to echinococcosis is not recognized.
(2) The physician is unfamiliar with echinococcosis.
(3) The lesions occur in an organ (lung, ovary, etc) that commonly shows tumors AND/OR the patient has risk factors for tumor.
(4) The patient presents with disseminated disease (to brain, bone, subcutaneous tissue, etc) mimicking metastatic cancer.
(5) Positive PET scan.
Reasons why a malignant tumor may be mistaken for hydatid disease:
(1) The patient is from an endemic region or is known to have echinococcosis.
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Specialty: Infectious Diseases
ICD-10: ,
