[Echinococcosis of the diaphragm]

According to the authors, echinococcosis of the diaphragm accounts for 2.24% of all hydatid lesions of the thoracic and abdominal organs. It is pointed out that preoperative diagnosis of concurrent and secondary echinococcosis of the diaphragm is difficult despite the performance of pneumoperitoneum and scanning of the liver. Ten of 12 patients were operated on for echinococcosis of the liver or right lung. One-staged closed echinococcectomy with removal of the residual cavity is the operation of choice in a single echinococcosis of the diaphragm or uncomplicated concurrent echinococcosis. Excision of the dome together with the cyst is recommended for suppurative echinococcosis and irreversible changes of the diaphragm.