[Treatment of 842 cases with cystic echinococcosis of chest]

842 cases of thoracic echinococcosis were surgically treated by endocystectomy (79%), pneumonectomy (12%), drainage and other operations (9%). Among a total of 1,010 operations, the mortality was 0.6% (5/807). Of 637 cases received 798 endocystectomies, the recurrence rate was 4.2% (27/638). Up to 1979, the first series of 323 cases were followed-up for 3-20 years, no single case died of thoracic echnococcosis. Among the 32 non-operation cases, the mortality was 22.2% (6/27) and 9 cases were spontaneously cured. 22 cases were given praziquantel at two dosages, Group A received 120-150 mg/kg and Group B received 210 mg/kg in divided doses for 5-6 days. The death rate of protoscolices inside the operatively removed cystic fluid from the above two groups was 43.1 +/- 9.6% and 64.2 +/- 3.5%, respectively, while in the untreated Group C 9.2 +/- 2% (P < 0.01). With total dosage of praziquantel 300 mg/kg in divided doses for 7 days, the concentration of praziquantel in patient's blood and cystic fluid was 0.49 +/- 0.075 microgram/ml and 0.006 microgram/ml, respectively.