Surgical treatment of hydatid cyst of the lung: Review of 30 cases

Hydatid cyst disease is still a problem in Turkey, especially in the east Anatolian region, as well as in many other places in the world. A retrospective review was made of the surgical treatment of 30 patients with pulmonary hydatid cysts during the last 3 yrs. Nineteen patients were male and 11 female with an average age of 23.5 yrs (range 4-44 yrs). Cystotomy and capitonnage were performed in 28 of the 30 cases (93.4%). The transdiaphragmatic route or simultaneous laparotomy was preferred when the liver was involved. Albendazole was used in four patients with multiple hydatid cyst due to probable recurrence in the postoperative period. Cough and chest pain were the prominent symptoms in the majority of cases. A single lobe was affected in 22 patients. Unilateral multiple foci were present in four patients and bilateral multiple foci in four. Six patients had concomitant liver cysts. Morbidity was low and no mortality was seen. No recurrences were seen on control chest radiographs during the last 2-yr follow-up. In the treatment of hydatid cyst of the lung, conservative surgical methods such as cystotomy and capitonnage still remain the treatment of choice. Medical treatment could be used for prophylactic purposes and in some instances, but the percutaneous aspiration method should not be performed.