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Updated: Dec 10, 2025
Transient Transduction of the Strobilated Forms of Echinococcus granulosus
Published on: September 16, 2022
Primary pulmonary cystic Echinococcus in an immunocompetent patient
Nicholas Villalobos1, Maria Gabriela Cabanilla2, William Paul Diehl3
1Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA villalobos.nk@gmail.com.
Insights
A rare case of lung hydatid disease caused by Echinococcus infection presented with symptoms mimicking malignancy. Surgical removal and antiparasitic treatment led to a good recovery.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonology
- Infectious Diseases
- Parasitology
Background:
- Lung hydatid disease, caused by Echinococcus infection, is uncommon in many regions.
- Differential diagnosis for pulmonary masses can be challenging, often requiring extensive investigation.
Observation:
- A 60-year-old man presented with symptoms including haemoptysis, fever, cough, dizziness, and weakness, alongside large intraparenchymal lung masses.
- Investigations revealed hydatid cyst protoscolices ('hooklets'), strongly suggesting Echinococcus infection.
Findings:
- The patient underwent surgical excision of the affected lung lobe, lung decortication, partial pleurectomy, and pneumolysis.
- Long-term antiparasitic therapy was initiated post-surgery.
Implications:
- This case highlights the importance of considering parasitic infections in the differential diagnosis of pulmonary masses, even in non-endemic areas.
- Multimodal diagnostic approaches and combined surgical and medical management are crucial for favorable outcomes in lung hydatid disease.
Abstract:
A 60-year-old man was referred to the interventional pulmonology clinic with a large right-sided intraparenchymal lung mass and a second, smaller lesion in the left lower lobe, accompanied by intermittent haemoptysis, fever, chills, productive cough of white phlegm as well as dizziness and weakness. He had presented previously and was being evaluated for the possibility of malignancy. Investigations had revealed 'hooklets' (protoscolices) of hydatid cysts, most likely representing the parasite Echinococcus Successful surgical excision of the affected lobe, lung decortication, partial pleurectomy and pneumolysis of the adhesions was performed, along with long-term antiparasitic therapy. The initial differential diagnosis for this patient was challenging and required multimodal investigations. The patient made good recovery and continued to be followed by infectious disease specialists for management of antiparasitic therapy.
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