Pancreatitis caused by rupture of a hydatid liver cyst

Objective: To report a case of pancreatitis caused by a ruptured hydatid liver cyst. Design: Case report, pathogenesis and a review of the literature. Setting: Gastroenterology unit of a general hospital. Patient: A 56-year-old Moroccan man, living in The Netherlands for many years, presented with acute severe abdominal pain. Pancreatitis and, subsequently, cholangitis caused by rupture of an echinococcal cyst of the liver was diagnosed. Pre-operative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography showed intrabiliary hydatid material as well as a cyst-bile duct communication. Interventions: Pericystectomy and cholecystectomy were performed. Postoperatively, the patient was treated with albendazol for 8 weeks. Outcome: The patient is totally symptom-free