Pulmonary cystic echinococcosis.

Tim Frederik Weber, Thomas Junghanss, Marija Stojković

Current opinion in infectious diseases 2023 Oct 01

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The aim of our review is to summarize specific clinical, diagnostic and treatment aspects of pulmonary cystic echinococcosis. The lung is the organ second most affected by cystic echinococcosis with approximately a quarter of cystic echinococcosis cysts. Most cysts are in the liver. Apart from the watch and wait approach for selected inactive cysts [cystic echinococcosis CE4, CE5], the well established WHO cystic echinococcosis cyst classification-based treatment of hepatic cystic echinococcosis cannot be applied to pulmonary cystic echinococcosis cysts. Some standard interventions can even be harmful when applied to pulmonary cystic echinococcosis cysts. Cystic echinococcosis is one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Development of new diagnostics and treatment modalities is hampered by low investment into research and is accordingly slow. Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for pulmonary cystic echinococcosis cysts. Parenchyma-sparing surgical techniques should be used whenever possible. Albendazole induces decay of the parasitic cyst membrane, opening of cystobronchial fistulas and cyst complications, which can be life threatening. It is strongly recommended to seek advice from expert centres, including differential diagnoses, treatment and a long-term management plan. Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.

Citation

Tim Frederik Weber, Thomas Junghanss, Marija Stojković. Pulmonary cystic echinococcosis. Current opinion in infectious diseases. 2023 Oct 01;36(5):318-325