A Rare Case of Sublingual Gland Hydatid Cyst

DOI: https://doi.org/10.18502/crcp.v4i4.2388

Keywords: Hydatid cyst; Sublingual gland; Case report

Background: Hydatid cyst is a zoonotic disease due to the infection with the larvae of

Echinococcus granulosus. The liver and lungs (80%) are the main organs involved and rarely

head and neck.

Case Presentation: A 47-year-old Iranian man presented to our center complaining of

sublingual inflammation for 8 months. Sonography revealed a cystic lesion of 4×5×6 cm within

the tongue. CT-scan showed a well-defined and hypodense mass in the floor of the mouth.

Cyst resection was performed with the probability of ranula. Pathology was suggestive of

hydatid cyst. Further workups revealed liver involvement. Therefore, he was treated with

albendazole for 2 months.

Conclusion: The hydatid cyst in the head and neck is rare and the involvement of sublingual

gland is extremely rare. However, in endemic areas, hydatid cyst should be considered in the

differential diagnosis of head and neck masses.