Ruptured hydatid cyst in the right thorax: differential diagnosis to pleural empyema

Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2005 Aug;53(4):250-1. doi: 10.1055/s-2005-837643.

Abstract

We present a case of a hydatid cyst (Echinococcus granulosus) rupturing into the right pleural cavity. Clinical and radiological findings were consistent with a pleural effusion caused by pneumonia and led primarily to a wrong diagnosis. Pleural fluid analysis was suspicious for parapneumonic pleural empyema. After thoracoscopy led to the correct diagnosis a combined surgical and chemotherapy approach achieved complete remission.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Chemotherapy, Adjuvant
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Drainage / methods
  • Echinococcosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis*
  • Echinococcosis, Pulmonary / therapy
  • Empyema, Pleural / diagnosis*
  • Empyema, Pleural / therapy
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pleural Effusion / diagnosis
  • Pleural Effusion / therapy
  • Risk Assessment
  • Rupture, Spontaneous / diagnosis
  • Rupture, Spontaneous / therapy
  • Thoracoscopy / methods
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed
  • Treatment Outcome