Giant hydatid lung cysts.
OBJECTIVE
In this clinical retrospective study, we aimed to evaluate giant hydatid lung cyst cases as a different clinical entity that recorded in last 10 years in our clinic.


METHODS
Between February 1990 and May 2000, a total of 305 hydatid lung cyst cases from patients that had been operated were reviewed, and 67 (21.9%) cysts with more than 10 cm in diameters of them were regarded as a giant hydatid lung cyst. Further investigations were made with respect to different factors.


RESULTS
Thirty-six (54%) cases were male and 31 (46%) were female. The ages ranged between 5 and 54 (mean 21.6) years. The most common symptoms recorded were; cough (68%), thoracic pain (55%) and dyspnea (52%). Cyst sizes were ranged between 10 and 22 cm (mean 13.4) in diameters. Forty-two (62%) of them were in the right, 22 (33%) were in the left hemithorax, and three (5%) were located bilaterally. Cystotomy or cystectomy and capitonnage was the most frequent applied operation procedure (71%). Resection was performed in nine (13%) cases. Thirteen (19%) cases had air leakage more than 10 days in which five (7%) of them empyema occurred postoperatively. One case died due to respiratory failure in fourth postoperative day. The postoperative hospital stay ranged between 6 and 43 (mean 10.5) days. No recurrence was recorded in 1-5 years of a follow-up period.


CONCLUSIONS
Giant hydatid lung cysts must be regarded as a different clinical entity because of their early occurrence, having more serious symptoms, with frequent operative complications, and they need prolonged care with higher cost effects.
Karaoglanoglu
N
N
Department Of Thoracic Surgery, School of Medicine, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Turkey. nkaraoglanoglu@hotmail.com
Kurkcuoglu
I C
IC
Gorguner
M
M
Eroglu
A
A
Turkyilmaz
A
A
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004445:Echinococcosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012189:Retrospective Studies