Surgical treatment of intrathoracic hydatid disease: a 5-year experience in an endemic region

Pulmonary Cystic Echinococcosis: A Ruptured and Infected Cyst Presenting As Pyopneumothorax

In this report, a case of 62-year-old female is described who came to the hospital with chief complaints of breathlessness and productive cough with salty whitish expectoration, which she had for two months, along with fever and right-sided chest pain, for three days. The case was identified as a ruptured pulmonary hydatid cyst with pyopneumothorax using contrast-enhanced computed tomography and chest X-ray. This was further supported by the Echinococcus antibody IgG test. Right thoracostomy, the placement of an intercoastal drain, and four days of continuous aspiration of 750 ml of serous fluid were used for managing the case. Following this, oral albendazole was used as a conservative measure.

Cystic Echinococcosis in Children: Ten Years of Experience and Which Laboratory Result in Evaluating Ruptured Cases?

Aim Hydatid disease (Echinococcosis) is a common zoonosis in countries that are involved in livestock such as our country. Our study aims to evaluate pediatric cases with hydatid disease over the last decade in our region and to determine the significance of initial clinical and laboratory findings in distinguishing ruptured hydatid cyst cases. Materials and Methods A retrospective analysis was made on demographic characteristics, presenting symptoms, physical examination, laboratory and radiological findings, and treatments of children with hydatid disease who were treated in our hospital and followed up regularly between January 2011 and December 2020. Results The study sample of 42 cases included 19 (45.2%) girls, with a median age of 125.5 (34-209) months. The most common symptom was abdominal pain (50%), and the most common physical examination finding was decreased breath sounds (23.8%). Thirty-five (83.3%) patients had single organ involvement and 7 (16.7) patients had multiple organ involvement. Cysts were detected in the right lobe of the liver in 24 (75%) of hepatic hydatid cysts and the left lobe in 7 (58.3%) of pulmonary hydatid cysts. The median size of the cysts was 57.5 (12-140) mm. The initial IHA titer, eosinophil count, eosinophil percentage, and sedimentation value were statistically significantly higher in patients with ruptured cysts than in those without rupture (p= 0.002, p= 0.003, p= 0.003, p= 0.02, respectively). Conclusions Initial pathological examination findings and at initial laboratory findings such as high IHA titer, eosinophil count, eosinophil percentage, sedimentation value can be used to distinguish rupture cases.

Application of Multi-Slice Computed Tomography for the Preoperative Diagnosis and Classification of Pulmonary Cystic Echinococcosis

Pulmonary cystic echinococcosis remains a serious threat to public health. A standardized, imaging-based classification method for pulmonary echinococcosis has not yet been developed despite the existence of a standardized ultrasound classification method and treatment plan for hepatic cystic echinococcosis. Chest computed tomography (CT) images from 34 cases of pulmonary cystic echinococcosis with 46 lesions were used for classification based on the World Health Organization (WHO) standardized ultrasound classification of hepatic cystic echinococcosis. CT findings were compared with intraoperative observations and postoperative pathological results to assess accuracy. Pulmonary cystic echinococcosis was common in women (14/34, 41.2%) and children (14/34, 41.2%) with a single cyst (28/46, 60.9%). Most lesions were classified as cystic echinococcosis 1(CE1, 19/46) or cystic echinococcosis 3(CE3, 21/46). Blood leukocytosis was mostly observed in CE3 lesions (100%, 9/9) (p < 0.05). The preoperative CT diagnosis of pulmonary cystic echinococcosis had an accuracy rate of 100%. The preoperative CT typing, and postoperative pathological typing had a coincidence rate of 97.8% (45/46). Our study provided a classification method based on CT imaging for pulmonary cystic echinococcosis that can be used during pre-surgical planning to reduce patient’s postoperative complications and mortality.

Uniportal-Single Incision Thoracoscopic Access for Pulmonary Hydatid Cysts

Objective:

Pulmonary hydatid cyst is caused by Echinococcus Species and has high prevalence in low and middle income countries. Surgery remains the gold standard method for this parasitic pulmonary disease. Here, we report 20 cases of pulmonary hydatid cysts that underwent minimally invasive videothoracoscopic surgery.

Methodology:

All the patients who underwent minimally invasive complete thoracoscopic removal of pulmonary hydatid cysts in our clinic, which were recorded in the hospital database had been extracted. Clinical properties and complications of the surgeries were analyzed retrospectively.

Results:

Minimally invasive method was performed in all 20 cases. The mean duration of operation was 95 minutes (min-max: 45-175), and the mean length of hospitalization was 3.55 days (min-max: 2-7). The complication rate was 15% (n=3) and there was no recurrence in 6 months of follow- up.

Conclusion:

Videothorascopic pulmonary hydatid cysts removal seems to be a safe and useful method. This method is applied in all suitable patients with pulmonary hydatid cysts.

Cystic pulmonary hydatidosis

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by the larval stages of the cestode Echinococcus granulosus. Worldwide, pulmonary hydatid cyst is a significant problem medically, socially, and economically. Surgery is the definitive therapy of pulmonary hydatidosis. Benzimidazoles may be considered in patients with a surgical contraindication. This review will focus on pathogenesis, lifecycle, clinical features, and management of pulmonary hydatid disease.

Do the Hydatid Cysts Have Unusual Localization and Dissemination Ways in the Chest Cavity?

We wanted to report our two cases of intrathoracic extrapulmonary hydatid cyst in pleural cavity due to its rarity. Our first case is a 24-year-old male patient who was admitted with a cystic mass lesion consistent with hydatid cyst which was incidentally detected in inferior lobe of the right lung neighboring to thoracic wall and diaphragm. Our second case is a 32-year-old male patient who was admitted with chest pain and a cystic lesion in apex of the right hemithorax and intercostal field in basal after he had been medically treated due to hydatid cyst of the dome of the liver for two years. The cysts were removed with thoracotomy. Extrapulmonary intrathoracic hydatid cysts were evaluated with regard to invasion ways and treatment indications and methods.

Humoural immune response and pathological analysis in patients with false immune diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis

The patients with false immune diagnosis of hydatid disease were investigated for the humoural immune response to analyse the possible reasons and mechanism leading to false immune diagnosis. Two hundred and thirty-nine patients with nature-unknown cysts and 30 healthy controls were detected by immunological assays (four hydatid antigen-based immunogold filtration assay and enzyme-linked immune absorbent assay) and ultrasound. Sensitivity of and specificity of immunological assay and ultrasound were calculated, respectively. The serological diagnosis was compared with surgical pathology to screen the patients with false immune diagnosis for the immunoglobulin measurement and pathological analysis. The history and cyst characteristics were also reviewed. The results indicate the immunoglobulin has little influence on false immunodiagnosis. The false-negative immunodiagnosis was caused by the cysts' inactive status while the false positive caused by previous rupture, antigen cross-reaction. The clinical diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis requires a combination of immunodiagnosis and ultrasonography, which is the necessary complementary confirmation.

Cystic echinococcosis in Arad County, Romania

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a major parasitosis in Romania, a country where in the past at least one person from 45.5% of its localities underwent surgery for this disease. This survey aimed to provide new epidemiological and clinical data regarding human cases of CE in a western Romanian county. We have retrospectively investigated the medical records of the patients with CE hospitalized during the period of 2004-2010 in the surgical sections of Arad County. A total of 79 patients aged 5-88 years (mean age: 35.9±20.1 years) were diagnosed with CE during the study period. The average yearly incidence was 2.4 cases per 100,000 inhabitants, and the majority of the patients (29.1%) were aged 0-19 years. Most of the adult cases (≥18 years) were people with limited formal education (laborers) (45.6%). The analysis for trend showed an overall decrease in the affected persons over the study period (R(2)=0.66, p=0.026). Hepatic localizations of the hydatid cysts predominated within the study group (73.4%). Only 21.5% of the diseased presented complications and the mean length of hospital stay was 16.2±10.9 days. Eosinophilia of at least 10% of the leukocyte value occurred in 14% of cases and leukocytosis was noticed in 24.1% of patients. Although the rates of CE cases have decreased in Arad County (Romania), this parasitic disease continues to be a concern for public health services and requires the implementation of more stringent prophylactic measures.

Human cystic echinococcosis in two south-western and central-western Romanian counties: a 7-year epidemiological and clinical overview

PURPOSE

To analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of human cystic echinococcosis (CE) in two Romanian counties, of which one is known from a previous survey as hyperendemic, whereas in the other no extensive studies have been undertaken so far.

METHODS

Retrospective investigation of the medical records of the patients diagnosed with this condition and hospitalized during 2004-2010 in Caras-Severin and Hunedoara counties.

RESULTS

A total of 190 patients aged 5-88 years (44.3±21.8 years old) were diagnosed with CE. More than one fifth of cases (21.1%) were younger than 19 years old, indicating active transmission of the disease. The yearly average incidence was 3.3 cases/100,000 inhabitants. The highest incidence was registered in patients aged 60-69 years (6.2 cases/100,000 inhabitants), regardless of their gender. Liver involvement occurred in 84.7% of patients. One fifth of the cases (20%) presented complications. Normal values of the eosinophil counts and leukocyte counts predominated within the study group. The length of the hospital stay varied between 1 and 65 days with a mean of 13.1±9.5 days.

CONCLUSIONS

CE has a significant burden in this part of Romania, and continues to be a public health concern. Consequently, better implementation of preventive measures and extensive informative campaigns for the population are mandatory.

Cystic echinococcosis in the human population of a western Romanian county, 2004-2010

This report aims to assess the epidemiological characteristics of cystic echinococcosis (CE) in the largest Romanian county (Timis County). Our study group included 182 patients diagnosed with this condition during 2004-2010. The yearly detection rate of new cases was 3.8 cases per 100 000 inhabitants. People over 40 years old accounted for 52.7% of cases. The incidence was higher in women and in rural inhabitants. No statistically significant decline in the number and incidence of CE cases was observed throughout the study period (R(2) = 0.24, p 0.3). Consequently, more efficient implementation of correct public health measures is required to fully prevent and eradicate CE in this region.