Disseminated Echinococcosis of the Lung and Central Compartment of the Neck

Abstract

Echinococcosis is a ubiquitous zoonosis. The causal organism is a flat tapeworm whose larval form causes infestations in human beings, who are its accidental hosts. It is known to occur in all parts of the body with the highest incidence in the liver, followed by the lung. Hydatid cysts in the neck are rare by themselves. We report a case of hydatidosis of the lung and central compartment of the neck, in a man who presented with pulmonary symptoms only. Computerized tomogram of the chest had revealed a hydatid cyst in the left lung and another incidental hydatid cyst in the neck. He underwent successful excision of both the cysts in one sitting.