Pulmonary hydatid disease: what is the optimal surgical strategy?

The treatment of the pulmonary hydatid disease has largely remained surgical. There is a range of surgical procedures which is currently being practiced; however, there is no scientific consensus over selection of these operative interventions. The extent and severity of the disease clearly dictates the choice of surgical intervention and patients need to be individualized for adequate and safer management. This mini-review attempts to critically analyze these approaches and end up with a practical surgical treatment algorithm based on previous literature. The mini-review also briefly discusses various controversies in the management of pulmonary hydatid disease.