Fibreoptic bronchoscopy and bronchoalveolar lavage for confirmation of
pulmonary hydatid cyst.
Abstract
There is no confirmatory diagnostic test for pulmonary hydatid cyst
other than surgical excision and histopathologic confirmation. Imaging
is at best suggestive and serology does not have a satisfactory
sensitivity. We present a series of children wherein flexible fibreoptic
bronchoscopy under conscious-sedation, revealed hydatid membranes in
airways. Broncho-alveolar lavage analysis confirmed hydatid in half of
them. We propose flexible fibreoptic bronchoscopy with broncho-alveolar
lavage as a confirmatory diagnostic test for pulmonary hydatid in
children. To the best of our knowledge, this is a completely novel
approach to the condition with potential to alter the diagnostic
paradigm.