There are very few data on multiple pulmonary hydatid cysts in childhood. Our aim in this study is to present the clinical features and treatment method of 23 pediatric patients with multiple pulmonary hydatid cysts in the light of literature information. Twenty-three pediatric patients with two or more pulmonary cysts who were operated between January 2010 and December 2020 for pulmonary hydatid cyst were included in the study. The patients were evaluated in terms of age, gender, symptoms, radiological imaging methods, surgical treatment, length of stay in the hospital and postoperative complications. 15 (65.2%) of the patients were male and 8 (34.7%) were female. The mean age was 11.3 ± 4.2 years. The most common symptom was cough. The total number of cysts was 52. Six of 23 patients had a perforated hydatid cyst at admission. Perforation was in the pleural space in 4 patients, and in the bronchial system in 2 patients. While the cysts were unilateral in 19 patients, it was bilateral in 4 patients (17.3%). 6 patients had more than one cyst in the same lobe (2-4 cysts). Cystotomy and capitonage was applied in all patients. Two patients with perforated cyst had empyema and decortication was performed. Resection was not performed in any patient. Postoperative complications were atelectasis in 3 patients and prolonged air leak in 1 patient. Parenchyma-sparing surgery should be preferred even if multiple hydatid cysts are in the same lobe because of the high expansiveness of the remaining parenchyma in children.

There are very few data on multiple pulmonary hydatid cysts in childhood. Our aim in this study is to present the clinical features and treatment method of 23 pediatric patients with multiple pulmonary hydatid cysts in the light of literature information.Twenty-three pediatric patients with two or more pulmonary cysts who were operated between January 2010 and December 2020 for pulmonary hydatid cyst were included in the study. The patients were evaluated in terms of age, gender, symptoms, radiological imaging methods, surgical treatment, length of stay in the hospital and postoperative complications.15 (65.2%) of the patients were male and 8 (34.7%) were female. The mean age was 11.3 ± 4.2 years. The most common symptom was cough. The total number of cysts was 52. Six of 23 patients had a perforated hydatid cyst at admission. Perforation was in the pleural space in 4 patients, and in the bronchial system in 2 patients. While the cysts were unilateral in 19 patients, it was bilateral in 4 patients (17.3%). 6 patients had more than one cyst in the same lobe (2-4 cysts). Cystotomy and capitonage was applied in all patients. Two patients with perforated cyst had empyema and decortication was performed. Resection was not performed in any patient. Postoperative complications were atelectasis in 3 patients and prolonged air leak in 1 patient.Parenchyma-sparing surgery should be preferred even if multiple hydatid cysts are in the same lobe because of the high expansiveness of the remaining parenchyma in children.