Uncommon Presentation of a Pulmonary Hydatid Cyst: A Case Report

Pulmonary hydatid cysts are rare entities, accounting for a small fraction of radiological findings. This case report presents a 43-year-old male with an atypical presentation initially suggestive of pneumonia. During a 13-day hospital admission, the patient's condition deteriorated, and further investigations revealed a complicated ruptured hydatid cyst. Definitive management included thoracotomy, cyst removal, and lung decortication. Patient's postoperative course was uneventful. Laboratory tests confirmed the diagnosis with positive antibody serology. The patient was discharged in stable condition with four and a half months of albendazole therapy and a pulmonologist follow-up plan. This report highlights the diagnostic challenges, clinical course, and surgical management of a ruptured pulmonary hydatid cyst.