Water-lily sign (hydatid cyst)

Last revised by Ian Bickle on 15 Mar 2022

The water-lily sign, also known as the camalote sign, is seen in hydatid infections when there is detachment of the endocyst membrane which results in floating membranes within the pericyst that mimic the appearance of a water lily.

It is classically described on plain radiographs (mainly chest X-ray) when the collapsed membranes are calcified but may be seen on ultrasound, CT, and MRI.

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Cases and figures

  •  Case 1: chest radiograph
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  • Case 1: CT
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  • Case 3: on MRI
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  • Case 4: liver ultrasound
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  • Case 5
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  • Case 6
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  • Case 7
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  • Case 8
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  • Case 7: peritoneal hydatid cyst
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  • case 10: pediatric
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