Pediatric Thoracic Hydatid Cysts in Peru : Case Report and Review

Hydatid cyst secondary to the parasite Echinococcus granulosus, involving the lung parenchyma, is an endemic disease in Peru, especially in the rural areas involved with animal domestication. Despite aggressive government public health directives for prevention, poor recognition and compliance remain major factors in human infection, especially in children. Medical treatment alone is not effective in the majority  of  either  asymptomatic  or symptomatic  patients  with  documented  thoracic  disease.  Surgery remains the primary recommended approach. Over 30 thoracic procedures are performed annually at the Instituto Nacional de Salud del Nino, in Lima, Peru for thoracic hydatid cysts. The present clinical case illustrates the contemporary  surgical approach to this preventable disease in Peru, along with some unifying surgical concepts.   Key Words: Hydatid cyst disease; Capitonnage; Endoplication Simple cyst; Lung sparing surgery; Endemic disease