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. 2018 Nov 2;5(11):ofy286.
doi: 10.1093/ofid/ofy286. eCollection 2018 Nov.

A Patient With Hemoptysis and the Sign of the Camalote

Alex Studemeister  1 , Marcos N Alvarez  2 , Lucy Studemeister  3
Affiliations

A Patient With Hemoptysis and the Sign of the Camalote

Alex Studemeister et al. Open Forum Infect Dis. .

Abstract

A 30-year-old woman presenting with hemoptysis followed by acute respiratory distress developed a diagnostic pulmonary radiographic finding, called the sign of the camalote, indicative of ruptured hydatid cyst. Her computed tomography scan demonstrated the characteristic detached parasitic membrane floating on cystic fluid, reminiscent of Amazonian camalote leaves. She was managed successfully surgically. Ruptured hydatid cysts may present as a diagnostic challenge, in which the sign of the camalote may provide an important clue for this serious complication.

Keywords: echinococcus; hydatid cyst; sign of the camalote; water lily sign.

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Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
A, Computed tomography of chest, axial view, demonstrating ruptured hydatid cyst with air-fluid level and serpiginous parasitic membrane (arrow). B, Sagital view demonstrating crumpled parasitic membrane floating at the air-fluid level (arrow). C, Camalote plant (common water hyancinth), Eichhornia crassipes. Source: United States Department of Agriculture (www.ars.usda.gov/oc/images/photos/mar00/k8801-2, accessed August 10, 2018).
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Right lower lobe of the lung, ruptured hydatid cyst, and adjacent hydatid fluid.
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Ecchinococcal scolices from the germinal membrane of the hydatid cyst, stained with hematoxylin and eosin.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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