K. Bhargava Vardhana Reddy1, R. Malleswari2, Janki3, Chiranjeevi Reddy4, Ananda Reddy5
Hydatid disease has a worldwide distribution and causes health problems in endemic countries. The parasite has a "dog-sheep" cycle with man as an intermediate accidental host. When humans ingest the eggs of the tapeworm, the embryos that emerge penetrate the intestinal mucosa and are transported via the circulation to various organs. Most commonly they reach the liver, lungs and the other organs are rarely affected. Primary hydatid cyst of skeletal muscle is rare, occurring in 1-3% of all cases.(1,2) The prevalence of intramuscular hydatid disease is reported to be less than 0.5%, because muscle is an unfavourable site for infestation because of high levels of lactic acid in muscle.(3) The diagnosis is difficult because of the unusual location, low prevalence and complicated cysts may mimic solid or complex lesions.
