[Pulmonary hydatid cyst presenting as dysphonia].

INTRODUCTION

Dysphonia due to compression of the intrathoracic part of the recurrent laryngeal nerve is usually the result of invasion by a malignant tumour. Compression due to an intrapulmonary hydatid cyst is uncommon.

CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 56 year old man who presented with cough, dyspnoea and progressive dysphonia. The chest x-ray and thoracic CT scan showed a cystic mass in the left upper lobe in close contact with the arch of the aorta. At surgery the mass proved to be a hydatid cyst of the lung. The treatment was by cystectomy and histological examination confirmed a hydatid cyst. The post-operative result was satisfactory with relief of the compression and improvement in phonation.

CONCLUSION

This report illustrates that hydatid cyst of the lung may occasionally present with signs of mediastinal compression.