Retropectoral Cystic Echinococcosis: A Case Report

Background: Cystic echinococcosis of soft tissue is rare even in endemic areas. Intermuscular and intramuscular cystic echinococcoses have been occasionally reported in the literature. Case Presentation: A 40-year-old male was referred to the surgery clinic of Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran, with a swelling over the right side of his chest in September 2015. In physical examination, a nontender soft bulging in depth of the right pectoralis major muscle with no skin manifestation was noticeable. The axial and coronal contrast-enhanced CT scan showed a multicystic mass lesion between the right pectoralis major and minor muscles with extension beneath the pectoralis minor muscle. The patient underwent a surgery for resection of the mass. After dissection of the pectoralis major fascia, a large cystic mass was visualized just beneath the muscle with some adhesion to the chest wall. Histopatholgic study of the surgical specimen also revealed cystic echinococcosis. Conclusions: This case reveals that cystic echinococcosis should be considered in differential diagnoses of any chest wall swelling.