RESUMO
INTRODUCTION: Dysphonia due to compression of the intrathoracic part of the recurrent laryngeal nerve is usually the result of invasion by a malignant tumour. Compression due to an intrapulmonary hydatid cyst is uncommon. CASE REPORT: We report the case of a 56 year old man who presented with cough, dyspnoea and progressive dysphonia. The chest x-ray and thoracic CT scan showed a cystic mass in the left upper lobe in close contact with the arch of the aorta. At surgery the mass proved to be a hydatid cyst of the lung. The treatment was by cystectomy and histological examination confirmed a hydatid cyst. The post-operative result was satisfactory with relief of the compression and improvement in phonation. CONCLUSION: This report illustrates that hydatid cyst of the lung may occasionally present with signs of mediastinal compression.
