Thoracobiliary Fistula of Calcified Hydatid Cyst of the Liver

Thoracobiliary fistula is a rare complication of hydatid cyst disease of the liver especially in calcified form. Given the rarity and high mortality of such fistula, it is not surprising that there is no consensus about surgical treatment of this condition. In the present paper we report two cases of thoracobiliary fistula of complicated calcified hydatid cyst of the liver. A 64year- old man with cough and biliary sputum and a 66-year-old man with cough and right biliary pleural effusion (pleurobiliary fistula). The patients underwent left hepatectomy with cholecystectomy and T-tube choledochal drainage in one patient and successful decortication of the lung, and cystectomy with excision of calcified pericystectomy of the liver in another patient. Pathologic examinations revealed calcified hydatid cysts of the liver. Because of poor prognosis of thoracobiliary fistula, radical surgical intervention is recommended. Iran J Med Sci 2010; 35(1): 65-68.