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Updated: Jun 4, 2026

Cardiac Magnetic Resonance for the Evaluation of Suspected Cardiac Thrombus: Conventional and Emerging Techniques
Published on: June 11, 2019
Cardiac hydatid cyst mimicking left ventricular aneurysm and diagnosed by magnetic resonance imaging
Uğur Canpolat1, Hikmet Yorgun, Hamza Sunman
1Department of Cardiology, Medicine Faculty of Hacettepe University, Ankara, Turkey. dru_canpolat@yahoo.com.
Insights
This case study highlights an isolated cardiac hydatid cyst, a rare cause of chest pain. Surgical excision confirmed the diagnosis, with the patient recovering well post-treatment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Parasitology
- Radiology
Background:
- Cardiac hydatidosis is rare, typically presenting as part of systemic infection.
- Isolated cardiac hydatid cysts are exceptionally uncommon, posing diagnostic challenges.
Observation:
- A 57-year-old woman presented with chronic chest pain.
- Imaging revealed a left ventricular cystic lesion with calcified contours.
- Echocardiography, CT, and MRI were crucial in characterizing the cardiac mass.
Findings:
- Despite negative serology, a cardiac hydatid cyst was diagnosed.
- The cyst was successfully excised surgically after a course of albendazole.
- Pathological examination confirmed the hydatid cyst diagnosis.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering rare diagnoses like cardiac hydatidosis in patients with cardiac masses.
- Multimodality imaging is vital for accurate diagnosis and surgical planning.
- Successful management involves medical and surgical interventions, leading to favorable outcomes.
Abstract:
Cardiac involvement is an uncommon presentation of hydatid cyst disease, accounting for approximately 0.5-2% of all hydatidosis cases, and mainly occurring as part of a systemic infection. Herein, we report on an isolated cardiac hydatid cyst in a 57-year-old woman. She presented with a complaint of squeezing chest pain of 10 month-history. On transthoracic echocardiography, a mass like appearance with heterogeneous echogenicity was noted in the left ventricular wall, suggesting a primary cardiac tumor or a mass compressing the left ventricle. Thoracic computed tomography findings were reported as a calcified left ventricular aneurysm 50x65 mm in size and minimal pericardial fluid. Coronary angiography showed normal epicardial coronary arteries and an apical mass with calcified contours. Serological test was negative for echinococcal disease. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed a cystic lesion, 54x48 mm in size, in the left ventricular anterolateral wall, protruding into the lumen. After albendazole treatment for four weeks, surgery was performed for excision of the cyst. During the operation, rupture of the cyst was noted. The diagnosis of cardiac hydatid cyst was confirmed by pathological examination. During a six-month follow-up, the patient was asymptomatic, with no cystic appearance on transthoracic echocardiography.
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