COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY IMAGING PRESENTATION IN THORACIC HYDATID CYSTS

Hydatid cysts are widespread zoonosis that originate from the larval embodiment of the Echinococcusand can be frequently found in the lung and liver parenchyma, in addition, they emerge in various atypical locationsin the thoracic cavity such as the mediastinum, its vascular compounds and the heart, the interlobar fissures, thepleural and pericardial space, as well as the structures of the chest wall and the diaphragm. Computed tomographyas one of the most utilized instruments of radiology imaging has a crucial role in the diagnosis of hydatid cysts,depiction of their exact size and location, as well as estimation of impending complications.The aim of this pictorial review is to offer full scale understanding of the recurrent imaging findings in thoracichydatid disease as well as to display some rare, extra parenchymal involvement and a summary of the complicationsand differential diagnosis.We did an in depth analysis of 55 chest CT scans of patients with thoracic hydatid cysts from North Macedonia andall patients underwent a contrast enhanced chest CT according to appropriate diagnostic protocol on a 16- sliceSomatom GO computed tomograph (Siemens Healthineers, USA).Hydatid cysts in all 55 patients were divided by location and appearance in two by two categories, uncomplicatedparenchymal and extra parenchymal, and complicated or ruptured parenchymal and extra parenchymal cysts.Uncomplicated parenchymal hydatid cysts were presented by well circumscribed, low attenuating, homogenouslesions with smooth walls of varying thickness, whereas complicated or ruptured hydatid cysts could be categorizedin two forms, contained or complete rupture. The most frequent imaging findings were the air crescent sign,waterlily sign and dry cyst sign. Uncommon extra parenchymal hydatid cysts’ locations were the mediastinum,pericardium and the diaphragm.Computed tomography plays an important diagnostic role in common thoracic hydatid cysts and aids in theevaluation of rare and complicated cases.