Renal hydatid disease.

Hydatid disease is caused by the larval form of Taenia echinococcus (Echinococcus granulosus) in humans, the most common sites being the liver and the lungs. Involvement of the kidneys is uncommon and can be asymptomatic for long periods. Renal hydatid disease has no pathognomonic signs except for hydatiduria. Because of the risk of fatal anaphylaxis, puncture of the cyst should be avoided, and partial or total nephrectomy is still the preferred treatment. We present 10 patients with renal hydatid disease treated in the Department of Urology, Ankara University.