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Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure
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Echocardiographic Evaluation of Atrial Communications before Transcatheter Closure

Published on: February 8, 2022

The case of a cyst hydatid localized within the interatrial septum

Ozalp Karabay1, Ahmet Onen, Fidan Yildiz

  • 1Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Dokuz Eylul University Hospital, Izmir, Turkey.

Japanese Heart Journal
|September 9, 2004
PubMed

Insights

This case report details a rare instance of Echinococcus granulosus affecting the heart's interatrial septum in a young adult. Surgical removal and medical therapy successfully treated the hydatid cyst without complications.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Parasitology
  • Neurosurgery

Background:

  • Cardiac echinococcosis, caused by Echinococcus granulosus, is rare, with interatrial septum involvement being exceptionally uncommon.
  • Echinococcus granulosus is a parasitic tapeworm that can form hydatid cysts in various organs, including the heart.

Observation:

  • A 19-year-old male presented with neurological symptoms, leading to the discovery of a frontal lobe cyst.
  • Postoperatively, echocardiography revealed a significant hydatid cyst (5x4 cm) within the interatrial septum.

Findings:

  • Surgical enucleation of the interatrial septal hydatid cyst was performed successfully.
  • The cyst wall was meticulously sutured to the interatrial septum, with no postoperative complications reported.

Implications:

  • This case highlights the importance of considering parasitic infections in neurological presentations, even when cardiac involvement is not initially suspected.
  • Successful surgical and medical management (albendazole) of interatrial septal hydatid cysts is feasible, offering a positive prognosis.

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