Chest Wall Hydatid Cysts: A Systematic Review
Introduction Given the rarity of chest wall hydatid disease, information on this condition is primarily drawn from case reports. Hence, this study systematically reviews the disease's manifestation and management. Methods Google Scholar was searched with the following keywords: (hydatid OR hydatidosis OR tapeworms OR…
2025 994 reads 1 citation
Review Articles
Chest Wall Hydatid Cysts: A Systematic Review
IntroductionGiven the rarity of chest wall hydatid disease, information on this condition is primarily drawn from case reports. Hence, this study systematically reviews the disease's manifestation and management.
MethodsGoogle Scholar was searched with the following keywords: (hydatid OR hydatidosis OR tapeworms OR echinococcosis OR echinococcus OR granulosus AND chest OR wall OR thoracic OR thorax OR rib OR sternum OR sternal OR cartilage OR intercostal OR extra-pulmonary). Inclusion criteria involved a confirmed diagnosis of chest wall hydatid cyst. Only English-language studies published in legitimate journals were included.
ResultsThe reported cases were primarily from Turkey (41.5%). The mean age of the patients was 39.7 ± 17.1 years, with a male predominance (56.9%). The most common clinical presentations were swelling (47.1%) and chest or abdominal pain (45.1%). Only 10 cases (19.6%) had reported a history of animal contact. Among those with documented residency (35.3%), 16 (31.4%) resided in rural areas. The average mass size on the CT scan was 7.5 ± 2.4 cm. Surgery was the treatment of choice, with thoracotomy performed in 37.3% of cases, video-assisted thoracoscopy in 1.9%, and the surgical technique not specified in 60.8% of cases. The mean hospital stay was 8.6 ± 4.4 days, and no recurrences were reported.
ConclusionDespite its rarity, chest wall hydatid cyst may have a good prognosis with few complications. Given its often-nonspecific presentation, reviewing the patient's medical history may help establish an accurate provisional diagnosis.
Keywords Echinococcus granulosus Tapeworm Hydatid cyst Chest wall Albendazole All subjects
Barw Medical Journal. 2025;3(3):34–45