Bilateral Pulmonary Hydatid Cyst in a Young Child: A Rare Case Report from North India

Abstract

Echinococcosis or hydatid disease is caused by the larval stage of the dog tapeworm, that is, Echinococcus granulosus, E. multilocularis, E. vogeli, or E. oligarthrus. Echinococcus granulosus causes cystic echinococcosis, which has a worldwide distribution. Liver is the most common site, affecting approximately two-third of the patients, whereas lung involvement is seen in approximately 25% of cases. This case is a very rare scenario of bilateral pulmonary hydatid cysts in a young child having exposure to a pet dog with negative hydatid serology and normal eosinophil count.

 

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Keywords

echinococcosis - hydatid cyst - bilateral - pulmonary - serology

Introduction

Echinococcosis or hydatid disease is caused by larval stage of the dog tapeworm, that is, Echinococcus granulosus, E. multilocularis, E. vogeli, or E. oligarthrus. Echinococcus granulosus causes cystic echinococcosis (CE), which has a worldwide distribution. The seropositivity for echinococcosis increased from 15 to 28.6% over 20-year period in North India. Though hydatid cysts can involve any site of the body, liver is the most common site affecting approximately two-third of the patients, whereas lung involvement is seen in approximately 25% of cases. Most pulmonary cysts are located in the lower lobes (posterior > anterior) and it is unilateral in 80% of pulmonary echinococcosis. Pulmonary symptoms are nonspecific and the diagnosis is made by correlating epidemiological history, clinical manifestations, imaging tests, and serological tests. In the present case report, we report a young child presenting with bilateral pulmonary hydatid cyst having negative hydatid serology with normal eosinophil counts.

 

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Case Report

A 7-year-old boy, resident of Ladakh, North India, presented to pediatric emergency with complaints of pleuritic chest pain for the last 1 month. This pain was localized on the left side of chest, throbbing and penetrating in nature. There was no history of associated fever, cough, breathlessness, abdominal pain, vomiting, or loose stools. The child's parents informed about the presence of a pet dog at home. At the local hospital, chest X-ray showed bilateral paramediastinal well-defined soft tissue opacities, up to middle lung field on the right side and peripheral lung field on the left side. The child was referred to the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh. X-ray was repeated at PGIMER which showed similar findings ([Fig. 1]). On contrast-enhanced computed tomography, bilateral well-capsulated symmetrical cystic mass, showing fat and fluid density was seen arising from the posterior mediastinum. A provisional diagnosis of bilateral pulmonary echinococcosis was made. Serology (immunoglobulin G [IgG] antibodies against hydatid) was done on the patient's serum which showed negative results (Ridascreen Echinococcus IgG ELISA kit). Other blood investigations were all within the normal range with 1.9% eosinophils. Ultrasound of the abdomen was normal. Pediatric surgeon's opinion was taken and the patient was advised bilateral thoracotomy along with partial cystectomy and marsupialization. On right posterolateral thoracotomy, 5 × 4 cm cyst was identified in the lower lobe. The cyst cavity was opened and hydatid membranes were evacuated. On left posterolateral thoracotomy, a 6 × 5 cm cyst was visualized in the lower lobe and the same procedure as that of right side was followed. Bilateral intercostal drainage tubes were put. A part of both the cysts along with fluid was sent to Department of Medical Parasitology, PGIMER. On wet mount of cystic fluid, plenty of scolices and hooklets were seen, resembling E. granulosus ([Fig. 2]). Histopathological examination of right and left pericyst showed lamellated acellular eosinophilic membrane with the presence of germinal layer, features suggestive of hydatid cyst. Postsurgery, the patient was given albendazole 150 mg BD for 3 weeks then stopped for 1 week and again started for 3 weeks, injection augmentin 450 mg three times a day and injection amikacin 22.5 mg intravenous once daily for 7 days were also given. The patient was discharged after 1 week under stable conditions.

Fig. 1 Chest X-ray posteroanterior view showing bilateral hydatid cysts.

Fig. 2 Wet mount of cystic fluid from right pulmonary cyst showing hooklets of Echinococcus granulosus (under 40x magnification).

 

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Discussion

Hydatid disease is endemic mainly in the Mediterranean countries (particularly Greece), the Middle East, the Baltic areas, South America, India, northern China, and other sheep-raising areas. However, owing to increased travel and tourism all over the world, it can be found anywhere, even in developed countries.[1] In India, the highest prevalence of hydatid disease was reported from Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.[2] In case of pulmonary hydatid cysts, solitary cysts are more common than multiple cysts and also unilateral cysts occur more frequently than bilateral.[3] In 20% of cases, it can be bilateral and multiple cysts in 30% of cases.[4] There are very few studies available regarding the prevalence of pulmonary hydatidosis from India. Punia et al did one study from North India from 2003 to 2012 (10 years), in which only eight cases of pulmonary hydatid cyst were reported and two of them had bilateral involvement.[5] Similarly, a retrospective study (2004–2015) was done from our institute only, which showed that out of all cases of CE, pulmonary involvement was seen in only 8.7% of cases.[6] In an Indian study done by Rao et al, out of total 117 patients of hydatid disease from central India, lung involvement was seen in 17 patients (14.53%) either solitarily or in association with other organs.[7] In our case, there are bilateral pulmonary cysts without hepatic involvement which is a very rare scenario. Unlike an adult, lung involvement is more common than liver in children, with frequencies of 64 and 28%, respectively.[8] Radiology and serology are the principal diagnostic modality used to confirm the diagnosis. Typical chest X-ray findings of uncomplicated pulmonary hydatid disease are single or multiple homogenous round mass with smooth borders as seen in our case also. Routine blood tests are usually nonspecific and only 15% of patients show eosinophilia due to leakage of antigenic material.[9] Serological tests include enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, latex agglutination, indirect hemagglutination test, and an immunoblot assay using lentil-lectin purified glycol proteins. These serological methods have a higher sensitivity (85–98%) for hepatic hydatid disease, but lower (50–60%) for the pulmonary cases. In our case, serology came out to be negative. Surgical removal of cyst and its fluid examination can establish the diagnosis of hydatid disease by demonstrating the protoscolices, hooklets, or cyst membranes as in our case. This is a very rare case of bilateral multiple pulmonary hydatid cysts in a young child having exposure to a dog living in sheep rearing area, with normal eosinophil count and negative hydatid serology. The given case highlights that in such areas, though bilateral hydatid cysts are rare, it should be considered in the differential diagnosis of such lesions on chest X-rays. Furthermore, one should not rely on serology for confirmation of diagnosis as it could be negative in these cases.

 

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Conflict of Interest

None declared.

• References

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Publication History

Article published online:
09 February 2022