Hydatid cyst disease (Echinococcus granulosus): experience at Asir Central Hospital.

In a six-year period, starting from the commissioning of Asir Central Hospital in 1408 H (1988), 43 cases of hydatid cyst disease caused by echinococcus granulosus seen in Asir Central Hospital were studied. The pattern was not significantly different from other workers' experiences. There was equal sex distribution and the average age was 41.7 years. The clinical presentations depended essentially on the organs affected, and computed tomography usually confirmed the diagnosis. The serological test at times gave a false negative result. Most of the patients came from Abha in Asir region and the most commonly involved organ was the right lobe of the liver. All the patients had laparotomy, excision or incision and drainage of the cyst, depending on whether the cyst could be safely excised or only drained. The average hospital stay was 17 days. We believe that surgical intervention should be the first line of treatment especially when the cyst is large.