Three atypical pulmonary hydatidosis lesions mimicking bronchial cancer from Turkey

Abstract

Hydatid disease is endemic in Turkey. Echinococcus granulosus causes cystic echinococcosis mostly in the liver and lung. Although pulmonary hydatid cysts can be diagnosed by clinical and radiological findings, atypical or complicated lung lesions may be misdiagnosed. In the present study, three cases with hemoptysis and atypical lung lesions were diagnosed and treated as lung cancer or tuberculosis based on the clinical and laboratory findings along with the imaging data and fiberoptic bronchoscopy evaluation. Eventually, pathological examination of the bronchoscopic biopsy material confirmed the definitive diagnosis as pulmonary hydatidosis. The three patients presented herein emphasize the importance of considering pulmonary hydatid disease in the definitive diagnosis of atypical lung lesions such as bronchial carcinoma in echinococcosis endemic areas.