| Abstract
| - Abstract. The development of anthelmintic chemotherapy has provoked re-evaluation of the management of hydatid disease. We reviewed the case records of 74 patients with 93 episodes admitted to hospitals in Auckland, New Zealand, between 1967 and 1982. Median stay was 29 d (range 1-172). 46 (62%) of the patients were male: 34 (45%) were European and 38 (51%) Maori. The median age was 39 years (range 14-85). The majority of patients presented with symptoms and signs related to local effects of the cyst. 57 (77%) patients had at least one operation and while 34 (60%) had a major surgical complication, only 3 died. At follow-up in 1984, 38 (67%) of the surgical patients and 10 of the 17 (65%) who were not operated on were alive. 9 mebendazole recipients were evaluated: 5 (55%) responded symptomatically, but only one was cured by mebendazole alone. One stopped mebendazole because of side-effects. 2 patients took albendazole: one was cured and one had a symptomatic response. Thus surgery is not always needed. The role of chemotherapy requires further evaluation.
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