Variable clinical presentations of pulmonary hydatid cysts: a four-case series from a single center in United Arab Emirates, non-endemic region

Bibliographic Information
Authors: Yehya M.; Abdallah M.F.H.; Ajeka S.; Al-Masalmeh F.H.; Albaghdadi M.O.J.
Journal: Journal of Surgical Case Reports
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Publication Date: 29 July 2026
Volume / Issue: Volume 2026 / Issue 7
Article No.: rjag658
ISSN: 20428812
DOI: 10.1093/jscr/rjag658
Scopus: View on Scopus
Document Type: Article
Access: All Open Access; Gold Open Access; Green Open Access
Authors and Affiliations
Yehya M., Department of Thoracic Surgery, SAQR Hospital, Al Juwais Al Kadi St, Ras Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates; Abdallah M.F.H., Department of Radiology, SAQR Hospital, Al Juwais Al Kadi St, Ras Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates, Theodor Bilharz Research Institute, Mahad Al Abhas Al bahari St, Kornish Al Nile, Warraq Al Arab, Al Warak, Governorate, Giza, 3863341, Egypt; Ajeka S., Department of General Surgery, SAQR Hospital, Al Juwais Al Kadi St, Ras Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates; Al-Masalmeh F.H., Department of General Surgery, SAQR Hospital, Al Juwais Al Kadi St, Ras Al-Khaimah, United Arab Emirates; Albaghdadi M.O.J., Kasr Alainy School of Medicine, Cairo University, Al Saraya St Old Cairo, Cairo Governorate, 4240310, Egypt
Abstract
Pulmonary hydatid disease is an uncommon manifestation of Echinococcus granulosus infection in non-endemic regions and presents diagnostic challenges due to variable clinical and radiological features. We report a four-case series of pulmonary hydatid cysts from a tertiary center in the UAE. Presentations included hemoptysis, pneumonia-like illness with cavitary lesions mimicking malignancy, ruptured cysts with multi-organ involvement, and an incidentally detected large cyst. Diagnosis was established by imaging, supported by bronchoscopy, serology, and histopathology when indicated. Management was primarily surgical using lung parenchyma–preserving techniques, with staged procedures for extensive disease, and adjunctive albendazole therapy. All patients had favorable outcomes without early recurrence or mortality. This series highlights the diverse clinical presentations of pulmonary hydatid disease and underscores the need for clinical suspicion in non-endemic regions to ensure timely diagnosis and appropriate management. © The Author(s) 2026. Published by Oxford University Press and JSCR Publishing Ltd. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Keywords
capitonnage; case series; cystotomy; echinococcosis; pulmonary hydatid cyst; United Arab Emirates; albendazole; C reactive protein; immunoglobulin G; adult; aged; anterolateral thoracotomy; Article; bronchoscopy; case report; cavitary lesion; chronic cough; clinical article; clinical assessment; computer assisted tomography; coughing; dyspnea; Echinococcus granulosus; female; fever; fiberoptic bronchoscopy; hemoptysis; histopathology; human; human tissue; imaging; injury; leukocytosis; lung hydatid cyst; lung parenchyma; male; multiple cycle treatment; multiple trauma; neutrophilia; pneumonia; postoperative monitoring; radiological parameters; rupture; serology; tertiary health care; thoracotomy; thorax pain; X ray; young adult
Citation Information
Scopus Citations: 0
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