| comprehensive Review by Kerstin
Wahlers and colleagues1 on cystic
echinococcosis in sub-Saharan Africa.
The investigators declared that some
patients with hydatid cyst might have
been overlooked or misdiagnosed
because of limitations of the
diagnostic techniques. The researchers
referred to ultrasonography as a
method unable to diagnose cases of
pulmonary hydatid cyst.1 Although
ultrasonography is used routinely
for diagnosis of hepatic cystic
echinococcosis, a few indications
for ultrasound in the detection of
pulmonary hydatid cysts also exist.
In patients with peripheral pulmonary
opacities with horizontal
line (air-fl uid level), ultrasound could
be used to diagnose lung abscesses
and masses associated with fl uid
and consolidation. This scan could
be done in patients in a sitting or
semi-sitting position.2 Therefore,
ultra sonographic examination might
provide proper imaging of pulmonary
hydatid cysts adjacent to
the chest wall.3 Furthermore, ultrasonography
is of great assistance in
clinically suspicious cases, and the
data needed for precise diagnosis
could be provided by this method.4
Additionally, specifi c ultra sonographic
markers (eg, doublelayered
internal septum) have been
suggested to be highly specifi c in the
diagnosis of pulmonary echinococcal
cysts.5
Although other highly |