Abstract

Objective: Lung hydatid cysts are more common in children than adults. Lung hydatid cysts may be complicated with bronchial rupture and/or secondary infection. When complicated, they can demonstrate non-specific imaging findings. We aim to present the diagnostic radiological signs of complicated and non-complicated hydatid cysts.

Material  and  Methods: Twenty three children who had 28 lung hydatid cysts in total were enrolled in the study. Demographic  information,  referral  symptoms,  chest  X-ray,  computerized  tomography  (CT),  magnetic  resonance imaging and abdominal ultrasonography findings of the children were retrospectively evaluated. The number of lesions, lobar location, bronchial rupture or infection signs, maximum diameter, wall thickness, and fluid density imaged with CT were analyzed.

Results: The mean age of the 23 children (girls: 7, boys: 16) was 10.1 (age range, 4-17). Seventeen lesions were observed in the right lung and 11 in left lung. The number of solitary lesions was 19 (82.6%). The lesions were bilateral in 2 patients (9.5%). The lesions were most commonly located in the right lower lobe of the lung (42.6%). Nineteen of the children (82.6%) were symptomatic at the time of diagnosis. Nineteen of the 28 lesions (67.9%) were complicated by bronchial rupture and/or secondary infection. Twelve lesions complicated with bronchial rupture (42.9%) showed the water lily (n=5), meniscus (n=5), and cumbo (n=2) signs on chest X-ray. A total of 21 lesions were evaluated in 16 patients with CT. Sixteen lesions complicated with bronchial rupture and/or infection (76.2%) showed the air-bubble (n=6), water lily (n=4), meniscus (n=4), cumbo (n=3), and whirl (n=1) signs on CT. The number of lesions in which diagnostic specific signs for hydatid cyst were shown was statistically significantly higher in the CT scans (P=0.031). The wall thickness of hydatid cysts complicated with secondary infection were greater than in uncomplicated cases (P=0.028).

Conclusion: Diagnosis of complicated lung hydatid cysts may be difficult with chest X-rays. CT is superior to chest X-ray in showing the cystic structure of lesion, demonstrating special signs of hydatid cysts and cysts located in hidden areas, evaluating complicated lesions, and preoperative planning. Although chest X-ray is the first method to be used, the evaluation of complicated hydatid cysts with lung CT therefore improves diagnostic accuracy.

Keywords: Kist hidatik, Akciğer, Çocuk, Akciğer grafisi

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Copyright and license

Copyright © 2019 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

How to cite

1.
Yıldız AE. Lung Hydatid Cysts in Children: Imaging Findings of Complicated and Non-Complicated Lesions. Turk J Pediatr Dis [Internet]. 2019 May 24 [cited 2025 Aug. 23];13(3):142-8. Available from: https://turkjpediatrdis.org/article/view/604