Abstract:
Liver transplantation has become the standard treatment for acute failure and end-stage
liver disease, but there are fewer donor organs available than patients on the waiting list.
The donor pool may be increased by using marginal donor candidates. Some infectious and
metabolic diseases have been transmitted to the recipient via marginal donor grafts.
Hydatid cyst disease is rarely transmitted to a recipient from the donor graft. A literature
search showed only 2 previous cases of liver transplantation using a donor graft that
contains a hydatid cyst. We treated a 19-year-old woman who experienced acute on chronic
end-stage liver failure secondary to cryptogenic cirrhosis. The liver graft from a 97-year-old
marginal cadaveric donor contained a calcified hydatid cyst. No complication was
associated with the hydatid cyst at 3 years after transplantation. The present case shows
that donor livers with an inactive, calcified hydatid cyst may be used for emergency liver
transplantation after considering the location, size, and relation of the cyst to vascular and
biliary structures. The cyst may be resected on the back table with a successful treatment
outcome.
