Can Large Hydatid Cysts Resolve with Medical Treatment Alone?

Respiration. 2016;92(6):428-431. doi: 10.1159/000451032. Epub 2016 Oct 20.

Abstract

A 66-year-old female from a rural area in South Africa presented with non-life-threatening haemoptysis. Radiologic and serological investigations attributed her symptoms to bilateral, large echinococcal cysts. She declined surgery despite her lung physiologic parameters, which deemed her eligible. Medical therapy with oral albendazole was initiated with excellent clinical and radiologic response during a follow-up period of 18 months. To our knowledge, this is one of the first reported cases in the literature that shows complete resolution of bilateral large echinococcal cysts with medical treatment alone in an adult patient.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Albendazole / therapeutic use*
  • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use*
  • Echinococcosis, Pulmonary / diagnostic imaging
  • Echinococcosis, Pulmonary / drug therapy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Radiography, Thoracic
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Albendazole