Objective: In this study, we researched the availability of Echinococcus IgG ELISA in pulmonary hydatid cysts.
Materials and methods: Between January 2008 and December 2015, 93 successive cases, which were studied in preoperative Echinococcus IgG and histopathologically found to have pulmonary hydatid cysts, were retrospectively analyzed. Age and sex of the cases and the cyst's location, number, size, spread to other organs outside the lungs, and its condition as intact or ruptured were reviewed.
Results: Forty-seven (50.5%) patients were male and 46 (49.5%) patients were female; the mean age was 27.7±19.6 years. While in 56 (60.2%) cases, only lung cysts were detected, 32 (34.4%) cases presented with both lung and liver cysts. While lung cysts were single in 71 (76.3%), they were multiple in 22 (23.6%) cases (between 2 and 20 pieces). In 48 (51.6%) cases, cysts were in the right lung, and in 32 (34.4%) cases, they were in the left. In 13 (14%) cases, cysts presented in both the right and left lungs. The mean diameter of the pulmonary cysts was 6.4 cm (ranging from 2 to 19 cm). In 53 (57%) cases, hydatid cysts were ruptured, whereas in 40 (43%) cases, the cysts were intact. While general Echinococcus IgG was found to be positive in 53 (57%) cases, it was negative in 40 (43%) cases. There were 53 ruptured cases, and 48 (90.6%) of them were test-positive; however, the test was positive in only 5 (12.5%) out of the 40 cases where the cysts were intact (p<0.001). A statistically significant correlation has not been found between IgG and patient age, gender, cyst location, number of cysts, cyst diameter, and extrapulmonary involvement.
Conclusion: Our study demonstrated that the most important factor that affects the positivity of Echinococcus IgG is the rupture of cysts. When ruptured cysts become confusing, Echinococcus IgG can contribute toward a diagnosis.
Keywords: Echinococcus IgG; Hydatid cyst; lung.