PERCUTANEOUS ASPIRATION-INJECTION-REASPIRATION (PAIR) THERAPY FOR SOLITARY SPLENIC HYDATID CYST: A CASE REPORT AND CLINICAL CONSIDERATIONS

Splenic hydatidosis is a rare disease caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. Here, we report a case of a 68-year-old patient with a single splenic hydatid cyst, discovered incidentally on an ultrasound. The patient presented with left upper quadrant pain, but was otherwise asymptomatic. Imaging studies confirmed the diagnosis of a 13.7 x 14.3 x 11.6 cm splenic hydatid cyst. The patient underwent a puncture-aspiration-injection and reaspiration (PAIR) procedure with scolicidal agents and drainage, which confirmed the presence of viable scolex. The patient was then treated with albendazole, which led to a significant clinical and radiological improvement.