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[Cardiac echinococcosis]
Branislava Ivanović-Krstić1, Dimitra Kalimanovska-Ostrić, Bosiljka Vujisić-Tesić
1Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Clinical Centre of Serbia, Belgrade.
Srpski Arhiv Za Celokupno Lekarstvo
|October 25, 2002
Summary
Cardiac hydatid disease is rare, involving multiple heart structures. This case highlights a challenging hydatid cyst presentation with poor outcomes despite treatment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Parasitology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Hydatid disease, caused by Echinococcus granulosus, typically affects the liver and lungs.
- Cardiac involvement is rare, often presenting with nonspecific symptoms, making diagnosis challenging.
Observation:
- A 33-year-old woman presented with cough, fever, and chest pain.
- Echocardiography revealed a large cyst in the right ventricle and smaller cysts in the right atrium and tricuspid valve.
- CT confirmed widespread hydatid cysts in the lungs and mediastinum.
Findings:
- Serologic tests for hydatidosis were positive.
- Surgical intervention was deemed too high-risk due to potential cardiac perforation.
- Medical management with albendazole proved ineffective.
Implications:
- This case underscores the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of rare cardiac hydatidosis.
- Systemic involvement can lead to fatal outcomes, emphasizing the need for early detection and effective treatment strategies.
- Further research into optimal management of disseminated hydatid disease is warranted.