Abdominal echinococcosis during pregnancy: clinical aspects and management of a series of cases in Chile.

Twelve pregnant women with hydatid disease are presented with median age of 29; 11 (91.7%) had a liver cyst and one (8.3%) had a kidney cyst as the primary disease location. Four (33.3%) had additional cysts located in the pelvis, peritoneal cavity and/or spleen; eight (66.7%) had two or more abdominal cysts. Three patients (25.0%) had surgery at the 3rd month after delivery and nine (75.0%) during their pregnancy. There was no histological evidence of hydatid disease in placentas, and no serological evidence of echinococcosis in the newborns was confirmed. One patient died after surgery. After a mean follow-up time of 39.5 months, we found one recurrent case of pelvic hydatid disease. Management of abdominal echinococcosis during pregnancy is an uncommon and difficult problem owing to the serious potential risks for mother and child.