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[Cardiac hydatidosis]
Insights
Cardiac hydatid disease is rare and often asymptomatic. This case highlights a latent heart cyst revealed by complications, emphasizing the need for prompt echocardiography for diagnosis and timely treatment.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Parasitology
- Infectious Diseases
Background:
- Cardiac hydatid disease is a rare parasitic infection, often presenting latently.
- Isolated cardiac echinococcosis is uncommon and can be challenging to diagnose.
Observation:
- A 42-year-old patient presented with abnormal EKG repolarization, revealing an anechoic cardiac mass.
- Coronography showed an avascular lesion with displaced coronary arteries, suggesting a hydatid cyst.
Findings:
- The patient developed acute pericarditis and cardiac tamponade two years later, with surgery revealing a large hydatid cyst.
- Postoperative complications included postpericardotomy syndrome and positive serology, managed successfully with flubendazole.
Implications:
- This case underscores that isolated cardiac hydatid disease can be latent and revealed by serious complications.
- Echocardiography is crucial for prompt diagnosis of cardiac hydatid disease.
- Antiparasitic therapy with flubendazole can lead to favorable outcomes in cardiac echinococcosis.
Abstract:
Cardiac localizations in hydatid disease are uncommon and often latent. A mass at the apex of the heart was discovered in a 42-year-old patient who presented with abnormal EKG repolarization. This mass was anechoic. Coronography demonstrated an avascular lesion with displaced coronary arteries. A hydatid cyst was suspected. No other visceral localizations of hydatid disease were detected. The patient refused surgery and was seen two years later with acute pericarditis and rapidly developing cardiac tamponade. A very large amount of pericardial fluid and a single hydatid cyst were discovered upon surgery. The cyst was aspirated and sterilized and the protruding cyst wall was resected. A severe postpericardotomy syndrome and positivation of hydatid disease serological tests occurred during the postoperative course. The patient was then given flubendazole. Prompt recovery occurred and the patient is still doing well under therapy two years later. In hydatid disease, an isolated cardiac localization is uncommon and often latent and may be revealed by complications. Prompt diagnosis should be made by echocardiography.