Superior Vena Cava Syndrome Secondary to the Largest Reported Thoracic Hydatid Disease

Abstract

Hydatid cyst disease, caused by Echinococcus species, can present with a variety of symptoms depending on the location in the body. In this report, we present a rare case of a 25-year-old male with a hydatid cyst who presented with progressive dyspnea and swelling of the facial, neck, and arm veins, i.e., the symptoms of superior vena cava syndrome. CT scan showed a huge cystic lesion on the right side of the thorax compressing the superior vena cava. The total size of the cyst was 183 X 209.5 X 333 mm, which is the largest collection of hydatid cysts reported in the thorax. A median sternotomy was performed, and numerous hydatid cysts were removed. The patient was placed on albendazole for 12 months and post-operative follow-ups up to three years showed no disease on chest x-ray.