Tuberc Respir Dis.  2011 Apr;70(4):338-341.

A Case of Pleural Hydatid Cyst Mimicking Malignancy in a Non-Endemic Country

• Kim SJ
• Jung KH
• Jo WM
• Kim YS
• Shin C
• Kim JH

Abstract

Hydatid disease is caused by the larval stage of taenia Echinococcus, which endemic in the Mediterranean region. Recently, the prevalence of the disease has increased worldwide due to an increase in the frequency of travel and immigration. As the infested larvae migrate through the bloodstream, the final destination is most commonly the liver or lungs; direct pleural invasion is very rare. A 50-year-old diabetic Korean man presented with an incidentally noted 2 cm right pleural nodule. On follow up imaging after three months, its size had increased. To confirm the diagnosis of the lesion, surgical excision was performed. Histopathological examination showed the diagnosis of a hydatid cyst. The patient had no history of overseas travel, but lives in an urban area where many foreign workers from endemic countries reside. This is the first reported case of primary pleural hydatid disease in a non-endemic country.

Keyword

Echinococcosis; Pleura; Taenia

MeSH Terms

Echinococcosis
Echinococcus
Emigration and Immigration
Follow-Up Studies
Humans
Larva
Liver
Mediterranean Region
Middle Aged
Pleura
Prevalence
Taenia

Figure

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  Figure 1 Chest computed tomography scan shows a 2.2×1.9 cm well demarcated pleural based nodule (A, arrow) between the lateral arc of the right seventh and eighth ribs with internal fat density, increasing the size about 4 mm after three months (B, arrow).

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  Figure 2 Histopathological examination shows the laminated cyst wall (arrow) of Echinococcus with fibrosis in the pleura (A, H&E stain, ×12.5) and the germinal layer (arrow) of Echinococcus (B, H&E stain, ×400).

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