Anesthetic Management of a Pediatric Patient with an Incidentally Diagnosed Infected Hydatid Cyst Masquerading as a Retroperitoneal Lymphangioma: A Silent Threat Averted

A 7-year-old female presented to the pediatric emergency department with abdominal pain, vomiting, fever, and anorexia. Initial imaging suggested a retroperitoneal lymphangioma, but intraoperative findings during diagnostic laparoscopy revealed an infected chronic hydatid cyst. This case report highlights the anesthetic challenges and management strategies employed, including the response to intraoperative cyst leakage and the transition from a presumed benign lesion to a potentially life-threatening condition.