Abstract

Of the 65 hydatid lung cyst cases operated at SSK Izmir Educational Hospital and Izmir Alsancak State Hospital between 1998 and 2002, 10 cases with a cyst diameter of more than 10 cm in any axis were studied retrospectively. These 10 cases were few in number, however, when the world literature was investigated, no detailed studies, except for 2 series, have been encountered on giant hydatid lung cysts. Hence, in this paper, our cases with giant hydatid lung cysts were presented and discussed based on the literature. Of the 10 cases, seven were female and three were male. They were aged eight to 46 years and the mean was found to be 21.7 years. In our series, the onset age of the giant hydatid cysts were determined to be younger as compared to that of other hydatid cysts. It was observed to be more frequent in the right hemithorax than in the left. In all the cases, the common complaints were chest pain, cough and fatigue. All the cases were approached with toracotomy. Cystotomy+capitonnage was performed in seven cases and pericystectomy, pericystectomy+capitonnage and lobectomy, respectively in other three cases. Wedge resection was required in one of the patients performed cystotomy and capitonnage. No operative mortality was encountered. Complications were postoperative prolonged air leakage in two cases and pneumonia in one case. To the two cases with prolonged air leakage, toracotomy was applied twice. As in the hydatid cysts, in the treatment of giant hydatid cysts as well, the treatment to be chosen should be surgical. It should also be considered that the risks of surgical treatment are greater than those of the normal hydatid cysts.