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 <i>Echinococcus</i> 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.