A rare case of numerous hydatid cysts in the pleural cavity without extrapleural involvement

INTRODUCTION: and importance: The Echinococcus Granulosus, an endemic parasite in several parts of the world which causes hydatid disease. Human acts as an intermediate host and gets infected by eating parasitic eggs. As it is well known, lungs and liver are the most commonly involved organs in this disease. When the pleura is involved, it is almost always secondary to a ruptured primary lung cyst. CASE PRESENTATION: The purpose of this paper is to present a case of 16-year-old male with complaints of dyspnoea and dry cough for 6 months. His vital signs, CBC, and laboratory tests were all within normal. Chest X-ray showed a complete opacification of hemithorax. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: CT revealed multiple cysts filling up the whole pleural cavity with collapsed lung and to-left mediastinal shift. The patient was diagnosed with primary pleural hydatidosis. The treatment was surgical, followed by parasitic medications. During the surgery, surgeons were able to simply extract many cysts by hand and eventually the collapsed lung returns to its normal volume and normal functional state. The patient was indicated to continue with Albendazole for 1 year after surgery. Three days after the surgery, chest X-ray was within normal. CONCLUSION: Primary pleural hydatidosis is such a rare case to present as full filled up pleural cavity and a complete opacification of hemithorax on CXR. Using the developed technical methods helped to confirm such case and in choosing the best surgical intervention. The result was satisfactory with fully expanded and functional lung.