Not a nice diagnosis, but treatable
The 52-year-old Quechua woman from the mountains had a type of tumor in her neck area. The suspected diagnosis was initially “lipoma”, a benign accumulation of fat cells. However, an ultrasound revealed a fluid-filled cyst. In the doctor’s meeting that morning, Dr. Martina John recalled a case description that she herself had published in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal in 1995. At that time, a similar finding had turned out to be a hydatid cyst. (John M, Poole JE, Friedland IR. Posterior Neck Mass in a 4-year-old Boy. Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 1995; 14 (12): 1119-1124)
A team led by general surgeon Hilbert de Vries removed the swelling, which was located directly behind the cervical spine. And the pathologist in Lima confirmed the diagnosis of echinococcosis (another name for a hydatid cyst). This disease is triggered by the larvae of the dog or fox tapeworm. They enter the bloodstream from the intestine and can colonize the liver, lungs, brain and, of course, the soft tissues. Over time, they increase in size. Treatment consists of surgical intervention and subsequent therapy with albendazole.
As a precautionary measure, you should stay away from dog excrement. As the forest floor, mushrooms and berries can also be contaminated, washing your hands is always a good idea. Our patient is doing well and was discharged home after a few days. Caption: The cyst is marked with red dots. It is located between the spine and neck muscles.
