A clinical study of 15 cases of hydatid cysts in children, diagnosed by means of a real-time gray-scale B-scanner is presented. It was subsequently confirmed surgically that there were hydatid cysts in the liver in all these cases. The ultrasound features of the hydatid cysts in the children were evaluated and we concluded that the great majority of hydatid cysts seen in children are simple hydatid cysts. Other features of hydatid disease such as hydatid cyst with septa and hydatid cyst with heterogeneous echo pattern, were found to be very rare in the pediatric age group.

Keywords: hydatic cyst, liver, ultrasonography