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Updated: Aug 16, 2026

Local Anesthetic Thoracoscopy for Undiagnosed Pleural Effusion
Published on: November 10, 2023
Ruptured hydatid cyst in the right thorax: differential diagnosis to pleural empyema
U Pfefferkorn1, C T Viehl, J-P Barras
1Department of Surgery, Bürgerspital Solothurn, Solothurn, Switzerland. upfefferkorn@uhbs.ch
Abstract:
We present a case of a hydatid cyst (Echinococcus granulosus) rupturing into the right pleural cavity. Clinical and radiological findings were consistent with a pleural effusion caused by pneumonia and led primarily to a wrong diagnosis. Pleural fluid analysis was suspicious for parapneumonic pleural empyema. After thoracoscopy led to the correct diagnosis a combined surgical and chemotherapy approach achieved complete remission.
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