Related Experiment Videos
[Cardiac echinococcosis. Report of a case]
Minerva Cardioangiologica
|October 22, 1998
Summary
Cardiac hydatid disease is rare, but this case highlights an asymptomatic patient with a ventricular septum cyst. Routine 2D echocardiography is recommended for hydatid disease patients to detect intracardiac cysts.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Parasitology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Cardiac hydatid disease is a rare parasitic infection, accounting for 0.02-2% of all echinococcosis cases.
- Echinococcosis typically affects the liver and lungs, with cardiac involvement being infrequent.
Observation:
- A case report of a 60-year-old asymptomatic male with a history of hepatic and pulmonary echinococcosis.
- The patient presented with a cardiac cyst in the ventricular septum, causing partial left ventricular outflow tract obstruction and altered compliance.
- Interestingly, the patient exhibited no cardiac-related symptoms despite significant anatomical changes.
Findings:
- The cardiac cyst's location in the ventricular septum led to partial obstruction of the left ventricular outflow tract.
- The cyst also caused alterations in left ventricular compliance, indicating functional impact.
- A notable discrepancy existed between the severe anatomical involvement and the absence of clinical symptoms.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of considering cardiac involvement in patients with a history of echinococcosis.
- Routine 2D echocardiography is proposed as a feasible, non-invasive, and highly sensitive screening tool for intracardiac echinococcal cysts.
- Early detection through echocardiography can facilitate timely management and improve patient outcomes in cardiac hydatid disease.