Infected myocardial hydatid cyst imitating left ventricular aneurysm

V Kutay1, H Ekim, C Yakut

  • 1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Yuzuncu Yil University School of Medicine, Van, Turkey. vkutay@yahoo.com

Cardiovascular Surgery (London, England)
|April 22, 2003
PubMed

Insights

This case study details an infected intracardiac hydatid cyst, a rare heart condition. Surgical removal led to a full recovery, highlighting successful treatment for this parasitic infection.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Parasitology
  • Infectious Diseases

Background:

  • Intracardiac hydatid cysts are rare parasitic infections caused by Echinococcus granulosus.
  • Symptoms can be nonspecific, including chest pain, dyspnea, and fever, often leading to delayed diagnosis.

Observation:

  • A 7 cm cystic mass was identified at the left ventricular apex in a patient presenting with constitutional symptoms.
  • Echocardiography, MRI, and hemagglutination tests confirmed an infected hydatid cyst.

Findings:

  • Surgical excision using cardiopulmonary bypass successfully removed the infected hydatid cyst.
  • Histopathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of an infected hydatid cyst.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the importance of considering parasitic infections in cardiac masses, even in non-endemic areas.
  • Successful surgical management offers a favorable prognosis for patients with intracardiac hydatid cysts.

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