Hydatid Cyst of the Mediastinum

¹ Resident, Hospital de Clínicas, University of Buenos Aires
² Associate in Surgery, Hospital de Clínicas, University of Buenos Aires Medical School, Argentina

Although over 13,000 cases of hydatid disease have been reported in Argentina since 1936, this paper reports only the 15th case of primary mediastinal hydatid. Even though exploratory thoracotomy is the only way of definitely establishing the diagnosis, we emphasize the importance of including hydatid disease in the differential diagnosis of mediastinal lesions in endemic areas. At the time of thoracotomy, the cyst should be injected with 10 ml of 10 percent formaldehyde and then excised. Excision of the pericyst is not obligatory if it is adherent to vital structures.