HYDATID CYST – A CHALLENGING DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT MATTER FOR THE YOUNG PRACTITIONER - THE MANAGEMENT OF A COMMON PATHOLOGY WITH FREQUENT COMPLICATIONS

Abstract

The hydatid cyst, or echinococcosis, is a parasitic disease whose etiologic agent is Echinococcusgranulosus, a parasite pertaining to the Cestodes class. Most commonly, in humans, the disease istransmitted digestively, through the eggs of tapeworms found on the animal fur. In echinococcosis,the existence of an occupational risk for animal breeders was identified, which explains farmingRomania as a hyperendemic country. The complicated clinical picture of Echinococosis maypossess hurdles for the young practitioner, in his endeavor to establish a correct diagnosis. Thispaper presents the particular case of a 49-year-old man, diagnosed with lung hydatid cyst, withoutevidence of liver injury, even though the normal life cycle of the parasite involves liver passage. Atfirst glance, the patient arrived in a hospital department complaining of febrile symptoms withpurulent cough and chest pain that does not resonate with the clinical picture of a hydatid cyst, aswas later discovered from anamnesis. From the patient's medical record, it stems that the patientrefused surgical interventions, and followed an antiparasitic treatment for a year.In the eyes of ayoung practitioner, all this information hampers the differential diagnosis, delaying the decision ofaddressing the patient’s problems through a surgery.In a general sense, depending on the organthat is affected, the most important part of the treatment of the hydatid cyst is represented by thesurgical approach, which must be adapted to each case, taking into account the existingcomplications, the risks that may arise, the anatomic and pathologic substrate of the patient.Thelaparoscopic approach is preferable because of the aesthetic result, but in this case, a classicalmethod was used, because of the high risk of complications during and after surgery.