Conservative Surgical Management of a Pulmonary Hydatid Cyst in an Adolescent Having Extra-pulmonary Lesions by a Multi-disciplinary Approach

Cureus. 2024 Apr 19;16(4):e58600. doi: 10.7759/cureus.58600. eCollection 2024 Apr.

Abstract

Echinococcus granulosus causes hydatid cysts, a significant zoonotic and pulmonary parasitic disease that can mimic various pathologies and is often harder to manage than the disease itself. A hydatid cyst is considered a significant health problem in India, Iran, China, and Mediterranean countries, which lack satisfactory environmental health, preventive medicine, and veterinarian services. Echinococcosis continues to be a major community health burden in several countries, and in some terrains, it constitutes an emerging and re-emerging disease. Cystic echinococcosis is the most common human disease of this genus, and it accounts for a significant number of cases worldwide. Herein, a case involving an 11-year-old presenting with fever, dry cough, and right hypochondrial pain is presented, where imaging revealed a hydatid cyst in the lung. Surgical removal of the cyst was achieved through right posterolateral thoracotomy under one-lung ventilation and anesthesia using intubation with a double-lumen endotracheal tube (DLET or DLT), highlighting surgery as the primary treatment despite the lack of consensus on surgical methods. This case underscores the effectiveness of individualized, parenchyma-preserving surgery for even large, uncomplicated cysts, indicating a positive prognosis.

Keywords: capitonnage; cystectomy; cystotomy; hydatid cyst of liver; lobectomy; pulmonary hydatid disease.

Publication types

  • Case Reports