A Primary Pleural Hydatid Cyst in an Unusual Location

Hydatid cyst has a predilection to involve the liver and lungs. Most of the reported cases of intra-pleural hydatid cyst are secondary; primary involvement has rarely been reported in the English-language literature. Here, we report on a 33-year-old woman who presented with complaints of dyspnea, cough, low-grade fever, and chills over the previous 3 months. Primary pleural hydatidosis was suspected on abdominopelvic CT; hence, right thoracotomy and cystectomy were performed. Albendazole was administered postoperatively for 6 months. During this period, liver function tests and abdominal sonography results were normal. Despite its rarity, our case emphasizes that general surgeons should suspect primary hydatidosis of the plural cavity when they detect large cystic masses in patients with mediastinal shifting and radiography findings such as white lung, especially in patients with fever and dyspnea.