Hydatid cysts of the orbit in Xinjiang: a review of 18 cases.

PURPOSE To review the prevalence of orbital hydatid cyst in Xinjiang, China. METHOD. In the records of our hospital and in the issues of Chinese medical journals between 1956 and 1994, we found 18 cases of orbital hydatid cyst, including 10 cases from our hospital, two cases from the ShiHeZi Medical College, three cases from the YiLi local clinical hospital, and three other cases from the HeTian, WuSu and Changji local hospitals. All cases were verified by operation. RESULTS. In our hospital, a review of 3736 cases of hydatid cyst between 1957 and 1992 showed that hydatid cyst of the orbit accounted for 0.3%. Among the 18 cases, 7 were males and 11 females; the age ranged from 3 to 55 years and 15 cases were under 16 years of age (83%).The main symptom of orbital hydatid cyst was proptosis. Before the 1970s, the diagnosis depended on positive serological tests, X-ray examination and a history of infection of other parts of body with Echinococcus granulosus, with final confirmation by operation. In recent years, CT and ultrasonography have made possible a positional and qualitative diagnosis before surgery. With regard to the serological tests, the Intradermal test (ID) was positive in 77% of cases, while Indirect hemagglutination (IHA) and Counter-immuno-electrophoresis (CIEP) were positive in two cases and negative in two cases, respectively. No recurrence was seen when two cases were examined by CT six years after the operation, nor in eight other cases followed by letter for between 8 and 11 years. CONCLUSIONS. Hydatid cyst is an endemic disease in Xinjiang, but orbital hydatid cyst is rarely seen. The diagnosis is relatively easy to make in endemic countries, based on the clinical features, ultrasonography, CT-scan and serology. The main treatment for orbital hydatid cyst is surgery.