Pulmonary hydatid cysts imaging

Background and objective: Hydatid disease is a zoonosis that can involve almost any organ in the human body. After the liver, the lungs are the most common site for hydatid disease in adults. Imaging plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis of the disease, as clinical features are often nonspecific. The aim of this study is to present the common imaging finding of this disease in our locality. Methods: In this study, we reviewed the imaging findings of twenty five patients with pulmonary hydatid cysts in Mosul teaching hospital over 3 years (Jan.1999-Dec.2002).The main objective was to study the imaging finding of this disease. Results: Twenty five patients were reported to have pulmonary hydatid cysts by different imaging modalities. Seventeen patients where male and the main age was 39 years (6-72), fourteen patients were diagnosed by chest x ray. Conclusions: Hydatid disease is a manifestation of larval infestation by the echinococcustapeworm. In adults, the lungs are second-most common organ to be involved by hematogenous dissemination. Uncomplicated pulmonary hydatid cysts are most commonly diagnosed incidentally on imaging.