Pathognomonic Signs for Hepatic Hydatid Disease: Snake Sign and Spin Sign

Excerpt

A 7-year-old boy presented to the emergency department complaining of abdominal pain that developed after he fell down. Clinical examinations revealed abdominal distension and diffuse abdominal tenderness with guarding. Blood routine and biochemistry test were normal. An abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated a collapsed cystic lesion in the left lobe of the liver, containing detached membranes appearing as a “snake” (Fig. 1a, arrow) and “spin” (Fig. 1b, arrow). An emergent laparotomy was performed and detachment of the endocyst (Fig. 2 right side) from the pericyst (Fig. 2 left side) was observed. The diagnosis of acute intraperitoneal rupture of hepatic hydatid cysts was confirmed.

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