Thoracic hydatid cyst: A rare case CT and MRI finding

Abstract

Hydatid cyst is a worldwide zoonosis. The lungs and liver are the most common sites involved. Extrapulmonary intrathoracic hydatid cysts may include the pleural cavity, fissures, mediastinum, heart, vascular structures, chest wall, and diaphragm. Radiological imaging plays a pivotal role not only in the diagnosis of hydatid cysts but also in the visualization of the extent of involvement and complications. We report a case of a 47-year-old female with a history of chronic pyothorax tuberculosis, treated with antitubercular therapy and a left pneumonectomy in 1998. She complained of chest pain with mild shortness of breath and loss of appetite. CT and MRI showed a voluminous solid cystic process within the left pneumonectomy cavity with extrathoracic and intra-abdominal extension.