Chest wall echinococcosis.

The chest wall is an uncommon localization for hydatid cyst. In this article, six patients were operated on because of chest wall hydatid cysts between the years 1989 to 1991 have been reported. Four of them had previously undergone surgery for pulmonary or hepatic hydatidosis; the chest wall was the primary site in two patients. Operative procedures for chest wall echinococcosis were cystectomy (four patients), cystotomy and evacuation (one patient), and chest wall resection (one patient). There was no mortality. Mean follow-up was 26 months (range, 14 to 36 months). No recurrence has occurred yet.