Echinococcus
cysts in the thoracic cavity were diagnosed and treated in 61 patients. Diagnosis was usually made by clinical and radiological manifestations of
hydatid disease.
Empyema, broncho-biliary, and biliary-pleural fistulae are complications of thoracic
echinococcosis.
Portal hypertension, systemic venous obstruction,
paraplegia, arterial emboli due to endocardial
cysts are complications of echinococcus
cysts. In 40 patients with uncomplicated
cysts,
cystectomy-capitonnage was performed. Lobectomy or segmental resection was undertaken for complicated
cysts and destroyed lung parenchyma, in ten patients. Extirpation of the
cyst is preferred for extrapulmonary location, and
median sternotomy is applied for bilateral multiple
pulmonary hydatid cysts. In our series, the incidence of surgical complications was low and there was no surgical mortality. Recurrence or pleural implantation of pulmonary echinococcus
cyst have not been found during an average nine-months follow up.