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Intracavitary cardiac hydatid cyst and the wall sign criteria
M El Fortia1, M Bendaoud, H Maghur
1Misurata Teaching Hospital, Radiology Department, P.O. Box 17742, Misurata, Libya.
Insights
Cardiac hydatid disease, though rare, can affect the heart. This case highlights a right atrial hydatid cyst diagnosed via advanced imaging and successfully treated with surgery and medication.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Parasitology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Cardiac hydatid disease is an exceptionally rare parasitic infection, comprising less than 2% of all hydatid disease cases.
- Echinococcus cysts typically grow slowly, often remaining asymptomatic for years unless they obstruct vital anatomical structures.
Observation:
- A 48-year-old female presented with an intracavitary cardiac hydatid cyst in the posterior wall of the right atrium.
- The cyst was incidentally detected by X-ray computed tomography (CT).
- Trans-oesophageal echocardiography confirmed the diagnosis using the authors' developed wall-sign criteria.
Findings:
- Surgical excision of the cardiac hydatid cyst was performed.
- The patient achieved a full recovery following surgical intervention and subsequent medical therapy.
Implications:
- This case underscores the importance of advanced imaging modalities like CT and echocardiography in diagnosing rare cardiac conditions.
- Early and accurate diagnosis of cardiac hydatid disease is crucial for timely surgical management and patient recovery.
- The wall-sign criteria offer a valuable diagnostic tool for identifying hydatid cysts via echocardiography.
Abstract:
Cardiac hydatid is rare at any age, accounting for less than 2% of all hydatid disease. The case is discussed of a 48-year-old female with a cardiac hydatid cyst attached intracavitary in the posterior wall of the right atrium. The Echinococcus cyst grows very slowly and, unless located in a critical anatomic site, it takes many years to evolve. Since the introduction of two-dimensional echocardiography, more cases are being diagnosed. The cyst was discovered incidentally by X-ray computed tomography and confirmed by trans-oesophageal echocardiography utilizing the wall-sign criteria developed by the authors. The cyst was removed surgically and the patient recovered by medical therapy.