Pancoast's syndrome caused by primary pulmonary hydatid cyst

Abstract

Pancoast's syndrome is usually caused by primary lung carcinoma in the superior pulmonary sulcus (1). It is characterized by: (a) apical lung opacity that may be accompanied by infiltration of soft structures and rib erosion; (b) severe pain in the shoulder and arm; (c) ipsilateral Horner's syndrome; and (d) weakness and atrophy of arm and hand muscles on the affected side. Nonmalignant causes of Pancoast's syndrome are extremely rare (2-4). We describe a case in which the syndrome was caused by a primary echinococcal cyst. It is, as far as we know, the first published case.