A rare cause of pleural effusion: ruptured primary pleural hydatid cyst

BMJ Case Rep. 2014 Mar 6:2014:bcr2013202959. doi: 10.1136/bcr-2013-202959.

Abstract

Hydatidosis is an endemic parasitic disease in Mediterranean countries, often caused by the dog tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. The disease predominantly affects the liver (60-70%) and lungs (30%), and the surgical management is considered as the gold standard for treatment. Besides anaphylactic reactions, the most frequent complication of the hydatid disease is rupture into neighbouring structures, often affecting the bronchi, gastrointestinal tract and peritoneal/pleural cavities, according to its location. Primary pleural hydatidosis is an extremely rare entity and we present a ruptured pleural hydatid cyst with unusual location.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Albendazole / therapeutic use
  • Anthelmintics / therapeutic use
  • Echinococcosis / complications
  • Echinococcosis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Echinococcosis / therapy
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pleura / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pleura / surgery
  • Pleural Diseases / complications
  • Pleural Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Pleural Effusion / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pleural Effusion / etiology
  • Pulmonary Atelectasis / diagnostic imaging*
  • Pulmonary Atelectasis / etiology
  • Rupture, Spontaneous
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Substances

  • Anthelmintics
  • Albendazole