The relation between the location and the perforation rate of lung hydatid cysts in children

The pressure, size, and central or peripheral location of lung hydatid cysts are the most studied topics among the factors affecting perforation. The aim of this study is to investigate the relation between the location and the perforation rate of lung hydatid cysts in children.

197 patients under the age of 16 years, who were operated between January 2000 and December 2016 due to pulmonary hydatid cysts, were evaluated retrospectively. Patients who had giant hydatid cysts (n = 27), bilateral hydatid cysts (n = 24), and more than one cyst in one lung (n = 12) were excluded to create a more homogeneous group to enable investigation of the relation between the location and the perforation rates of hydatid cysts. Finally, 134 patients who had only one hydatid cyst were classified into two groups: Group 1 with perforated cysts and Group 2 with intact hydatid cysts.

70.9% of the patients were male. In total, 134 cysts were detected and 41% were perforated. The highest perforation rates were detected in the right middle lobe (70%) and the lingula (66.7%). There was a statistically significant difference between the location of the cysts and the perforation rates (p = 0.018). Also hydatid cysts located in the right middle lobe and the lingula had higher postoperative complication rates than hydatid cysts located in the upper and lower lobes (p = 0.018).

We recommend surgical treatment as soon as possible in children with hydatid cysts located in the right middle lobe and lingula to prevent the risk of perforation.