The authors report a case of polycystic hydatid disease clinically manifested by right upper quadrant pain, obstructive jaundice, hepatosplenomegaly, weight loss, and, at end stage, ascitis. The diagnosis was made by exploratory laparotomy, with hepatic and peritonial biopsy. The patient died despite of receiving a high dose schedule of mebendazole for about twelve months. At autopsy, it was found hepatic, great epiplon and diaphragmaticperitonium polycystic hydatidosis. Epidemiologic and morphologic data indicate that the parasite can be classified as Echinococcus vogeli or E. oligarthrus. This seems to be the fourth case of polycystic hydatid disease in Brazilian literature, and is probably autochthonous of Triângulo Mineiro (Southwest of Minas Gerais State).
Polycystic hydatid disease; Echinococcus; Liver; Epiplon; Peritonium