Simultaneous operation of hydatid cyst of the heart and liver: a case report

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Parasitology
• Radiology

Background:

• Primary cardiac echinococcosis is an exceptionally rare condition, accounting for only 0.5% to 2% of all hydatid cyst occurrences.
• In contrast, the liver (70%) and lungs (20%) are the most commonly affected sites by hydatid disease.
• Hydatid heart disease is caused by the cestode tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus or Echinococcus alveolaris.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of concurrent liver and cardiac hydatid disease.
• To highlight the diagnostic imaging and successful surgical management of this uncommon presentation.

Main Methods:

• A 29-year-old female patient presented with abdominal pain and palpitations.
• Diagnostic imaging included echocardiography and multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT).
• Surgical excision of both liver and cardiac cysts was performed in a single procedure.

Main Results:

• Echocardiography and MSCT revealed a large liver cyst (120x101 mm) and a cardiac cyst (64 mm) in the right ventricular free wall.
• The patient underwent successful excision of both hydatid cysts in one operation.
• The patient's symptoms of abdominal pain and palpitation were addressed by the surgical intervention.

Conclusions:

• Concurrent liver and cardiac hydatid disease is a rare but treatable condition.
• Multimodality imaging is crucial for diagnosing and characterizing these cysts.
• Surgical intervention offers a successful treatment option for patients with combined hepatic and cardiac hydatidosis.