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An Unusual Case of Chest Pain in a Young Adult
This article was originally published by Thieme Medical and Scientific Publishers Private Ltd. and was migrated to Scientific Scholar after the change of Publisher.
How to cite this article: Hashmi NA, Acharya S, Lahoti S, Alegaonkar S, Shukla S. An Unusual Case of Chest Pain in a Young Adult. Int J Recent Surg Med Sci 2017;3(1):56-57.
Abstract
Echinococcosis is an infection caused in humans by Echinococcus granulosus which produce cystic hydatid disease. It is prevalent in most areas with livestock is raised in association with dogs. Liver is the most common site of this infection. We are presenting a case of 19-year-old adult who had chronic cough and pleuritic pain due to hydatid cyst in left lung.
Keywords
Echinococcosis
Hydatid cyst
Liver
Lung
INTRODUCTION
Hydatid disease is a parasitic infection characterized by formation of cysts mostly in liver and lungs. It is caused by larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. Other species include Echinococcus vogeli and Echinococcus multilocularis. Echinococcus species have definite host which are canines and intermediate host in cattle, goats, humans. It is prevalent in China, Central Asia, Middle East, Eastern Africa. Hydatid disease has no specific signs and symptoms. This disease presents with constitutional symptoms, such as fever, cough with expectoration.1
CASE REPORT
A 19-year-old male presented to medicine outpatient department (OPD) with chief complaints of chest pain on left side since 1 month, and cough since 7 days. The pain was sharp and localized in the left mammary area, which was aggravated by deep inspiration and coughing. There was no history of fever, hemoptysis, expectoration, palpitations, dyspnea, paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea, and orthopnea. He was laborer by occupation.
On general examination, the patient was tachycardic, respiratory rate was 22/min, blood pressure 120/70 mm Hg. There was no clubbing, cyanosis, raised jugular venous pressure, or edema feet.
Respiratory system examination revealed diminished chest movement in left mammary, inframammary, left intraaxillary, and posteriorly left infrascapular area. On auscultation air entry was diminished and bronchial breathing was heard anteriorly in left inframammary area.
Other systemic examinations were normal. Complete blood count (CBC), total cholesterol, ESR were within normal limits. Chest X-ray (CXR) revealed homogeneous rounded opacity in the left mid-zone with surrounding consolidation (Fig. 1).
- Chest X-ray showing homogenous opacity in left mid-zone with regular margins with surrounding consolidation
High resolution computed tomography (CT) thorax revealed a large well-defined nonenhancing cystic mass of size 8.3 × 6.7 × 5.3 cm with thin irregular walls in the lingular segment of left upper lobe. The lesion shows undulating walls with perilesional consolidation and multiple centrilobular nodules with interlobular septal thickening, suggestive of hydatid cyst in left upper lobe (Fig. 2). On asking leading questions, the patient denied any contact with dogs. This may be explained by the fact that eggs are partially resistant to drying and can remain viable for many weeks, and food (raw vegetables) can become contaminated without coming in direct contact with infected animals.
- Hydatid cyst
Patient was started on tablet albendazole 15 mg/kg/day, and was referred to surgery. Percutaneous aspiration, infusion of scolicidal agents, and reaspiration (PAIR) was done and the patient was discharged on tablet albendazole 400 mg bid for 28 days and is awaiting follow-up.
DISCUSSION
Hydatid disease is a parasitic infection caused by E. granulosus. It is endemic in many countries. It occurs due to ingestion of hexacanth egg of dog tapeworm. Generally, there are no specific signs and symptoms, and some patients may even be asymptomatic. Symptoms depend on site and size of lesions. Liver and lungs are the most common sites.2
Nonproductive cough and minimal hemoptysis are most prevalent symptoms of hydatid cyst of lung. Our case presented with chest pain, which was pleuritic in nature. The cough in our case was predominantly dry, which was, may be, due to consolidation with pleuritis. When the cyst ruptures, there is abrupt onset of cough, expectoration, fever, or acute hypersensitivity reaction that mimics anaphylactic shock. The sputum may become purulent or may contain fragments of hydatid membrane. Other symptoms, such as Horner's Syndrome from superior sulcus cysts, bone pain from posterior mediastinal cysts, dyspnea from tracheal compression, hemorrhage due to erosion of great vessels, and tension pneumothorax may occur depending on the site.
Work ups for hydatid cyst include CBC, ESR, CXR, ultrasonography thorax, CT thorax, and sputum analysis. Different serological tests, like enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, latex agglutination tests, are also helpful.
Medical treatment results in reduction of cyst size. Tablet albendazole 400 mg twice a day for 28 days and repeated from 1 to 8 times, separated by drug-free interval of 2 to 3 weeks is effective for liver and lung cysts. Adjunctive chemotherapy before and after surgery reduces the risk of recurrence by inactivating protoscolices and reduces the tension of cysts for easy removal. For uncomplicated lesion PAIR is now indicated. It is contraindicated for superficially located cyst and for cyst with multiple thick internal divisions. Principles of mandatory surgical intervention are evacuation of the cyst with removal of endocyst, avoidance of contamination, and management of residual cavity.3-5
Source of support:
Nil
Conflict of interest:
None.
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