Huge right ventricular outflow echinococcosis presenting as acute coronary syndrome

Hydatid disease is a human parasitic infection caused by larvae of Echinococcus granulosus in various sheep- and cattle-raising areas. It can be found commonly in the liver and lungs, but rarely involves the heart. In this report, we present an unusual case in which cardiac echinococcosis mimicked acute coronary syndrome by compressing the right ventricular outflow tract. The patient was referred to our emergency room for typical angina. His electrocardiogram revealed ischemic changes, but coronary angiography was normal. The diagnosis of cardiac echinococcosis was made by transthoracic echocardiography and contrast-enhanced CT and confirmed by pathologic examination. The patient accepted cardiac surgery for resection of the cyst. The postoperative period and follow-up were uneventful. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 44:518-521, 2016.