Hydatid disease of the lung

A total of 1,022 patients with hydatid disease were treated by surgical operations in our hospital, 201 of whom had lung echinococcosis. The criteria for diagnosis were (1) a history of living in an area where hydatid disease prevailed and of contact with dogs or their contaminated environment; (2) pressure symptom in the lungs produced by larger hydatid cysts, concomitant infection that provoked pulmonary abscess, concomitant rupture into the bronchi with the abrupt onset of a barking cough, and rupture into the thoracic cavity causing acute pleural effusions; (3) positive results of Casoni's intradermal test as high as 82.3 percent; (4) typical roentgenoscopic findings, such as a round or ovoid shadow with a regular margin, definite limits, and uniform density that is unifocal or multifocal. Specific images described in this report may also be observed. Two procedures for treatment were adopted: for intact endocysts, a meticulous incision was made along the ectocyst wall and then the endocyst was extracted, and for endocysts that had previously lost fluid, puncture was used. After removal of the endocysts, appropriate suturing of bronchial fistulas and of residual loculi of the ectocysts in the lungs carried out to prevent infection.