CT findings in pulmonary hydatid disease

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to present the CT findings of compli cated pulmonary hydatid cysts on the basis of the CT appearances. Material and Methods: Preoperative CT examinations of 19 cases with hydatid cysts were evaluated retrospectively for the number and various features o f the cysts and secondary changes in adjacent structures. The results were compared with surgical findings. Results: While 7 patients had multiple pulmonary hydatid cysts, 12 patients had solitary cyst. The total number of the cysts was 29. Eleven of them we re intact cysts. Two of the 18 complicated cysts were only ruptured, while the remaining 16 complicated cysts were ruptured and infected. The endocyst was separated from a pericyst in a local area in one ruptured cyst. Air-bu bbles were seen within 14 infected cysts. Nine of the infected cysts had ch aracteristic appearances of hydatid disease. The other 2 infected cysts sho wed soft tissue density. Conclusion: CT can provide the specific diagnosis of pulmonary hydatid cyst s by demonstrating the number and features of the cysts, characteristic app earances of complicated cysts, and secondary changes in adjacent structures . Whether there are characteristic signs or not, the demonstration of air-b ubbles within the cyst, together with ring enhancement, are strong indicato rs for infected hydatid cysts.