[Hydatid cyst of the heart diagnosed with bidimensional echography. Apropos of a case]

A hydatid cyst of the left ventricular posterior wall was diagnosed by 2D echocardiography in a 36 year old North African patient presenting with exertional dyspnoea and atypical chest pain. Clinical examination was negative but the surface ECG showed inverted T-waves in the infero-lateral leads. Postero-anterior and lateral chest X rays were initially interpreted as normal but 2D echocardiography immediately revealed a cystic cardiac tumour which very probably was hydatid, given the patient's origin. Thorough investigation showed no other localisations and hydatid serology was also negative. Left ventricular and selective coronary angiography were performed to determine the vascular relationships of the cyst: ablation was carried out under cardiopulmonary bypass and pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of hydatid disease.