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Updated: Jun 6, 2025
Evaluation of Left Ventricular Structure and Function using 3D Echocardiography
Published on: October 28, 2020
Beyond the expected: left ventricular myocardial hydatid cyst a case report
Safae Lanjeri1, Kaoutar Imrani1, Oumaima Mesbah1
1Department of Radiology, Ibn Sina University Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmacy of Rabat, Mohamed V University, Rabat, Morocco.
Insights
Hydatid disease, a rare zoonotic infection, can affect the heart. This case highlights a left ventricular myocardial hydatid cyst in a young patient, emphasizing advanced imaging for diagnosis.
Area of Science:
- Parasitology
- Cardiology
- Radiology
Background:
- Hydatid disease is a zoonotic infection caused by Echinococcus larvae.
- It commonly affects the lungs and liver but can occur in thoracic extrapulmonary sites.
- Intracardiac hydatid cysts are exceptionally rare, occurring in less than 2% of cases.
Abstract:
Hydatid disease is an infection caused by the larval form of Echinococcus. It is a zoonosis primarily affecting the lungs and liver. While pulmonary involvement is most common, the cysts can develop in various extrapulmonary sites within the thorax, such as the pleural cavity, fissures, mediastinum, heart, vascular structures, chest wall, and diaphragm. However, intracardiac localization of hydatid cyst is very rare and it is found in less than 2% of cases. Cardiac involvement can be caused by systemic or pulmonary circulation, or by direct spread from adjacent structures. Imaging techniques, particularly MRI, play a crucial role not only in diagnosing hydatid cysts, but also in assessing their extension and identifying complications. We report a case of a 13-year-old girl, with a left ventricular myocardial hydatid cyst.
