Soft tissue hydatid disease is unusual, even in endemic areas.

The soft tissue hydatid cysts are usually secondary, and have a predilection for the lower limbs. Primary hydatidosis of skeletal muscle is rare, with reported prevalence of 0.5–4.7%.

It is believed that the contractile nature of the muscles, and high level of lactic acid of muscle diminishes the growth process of the oxygen-dependent cysts.