Published online Apr 6, 2020. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v8.i7.1203
Peer-review started: December 25, 2019
First decision: January 17, 2020
Revised: January 24, 2020
Accepted: March 22, 2020
Article in press: March 22, 2020
Published online: April 6, 2020
Processing time: 102 Days and 23.8 Hours
Hydatid disease or echinococcosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease. The lung is the second most commonly affected organ after the liver. Intra-thoracic and extra-pulmonary hydatid disease is uncommon and may involve the pleura, mediastinum, heart, diaphragm, and chest wall. Unusual locations or complications of thoracic hydatid disease may pose a diagnostic challenge. We present imaging findings of cases with unusual location and presentations of thoracic hydatid disease with emphasis on their clinical implications.
Core tip: Hydatid disease is a parasitic zoonosis which is prevalent in sheep-rearing regions of the world. The thoracic cavity can be affected by hydatid cysts in multiple different ways. Although lungs are the most common affected site, hydatid cyst can be located in any part of the chest. Unusual location or complications can pose a diagnostic challenge and may influence treatment options. Radiologists and clinicians should be aware of the imaging manifestations of hydatid disease and consider the diagnosis upon encountering unusual cystic lesions in the chest, particularly in patients who lived in endemic areas or have evidence of hydatid disease elsewhere in the body