Hydatid Pulmonary Embolism: A Case Report and Literature Review

BACKGROUND Infection with Echinococcus granulosus is endemic in sheep and dogs in Central Asia, including Tibet. In humans, ingested parasites from the gastrointestinal system enter the liver via the portal vein. Rarely, hepatic hydatid cysts can rupture into the portal vein and embolize to the lungs. This report is of a 58-year-old woman with liver cysts and a pulmonary embolism due to hydatid disease. CASE REPORT We present a rare case of a pulmonary embolism caused by a hydatid cyst. A 58-year-old woman from the Tibet Autonomous Region of China was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of chest and back pain and shortness of breath within the previous 6 months. She had a 5-year history of hepatic echinococcosis. During hospitalization, the patient reported having aggravated chest and back pain and she developed a new symptom of hemoptysis. A pulmonary embolism was confirmed by computed tomography pulmonary angiography. After a multidisciplinary consultation, and based on the patient's medical history, clinical manifestations, laboratory test results, and imaging findings, a diagnosis of a pulmonary embolism caused by a hydatid cyst was established. CONCLUSIONS This report shows the importance of imaging findings in diagnosing a non-thrombotic pulmonary embolism due to hepatic hydatid disease. In this case, early and accurate diagnosis resulted in appropriate treatment with multidisciplinary patient management.