[Cardiopericardial echinococcosis].

UNLABELLED

Cardiac hydatid cysts are rare and represent 0.5 to 2% off all hydatid cyst in human. We describe clinical and echographic features in 12 patients with cardiac echinococcosis, admitted between 1992 and 2001. Average age was 40 years (16-60 years). The cysts were located in the left ventricle wall (3 patients), right ventricle wall (3 patients) right atrium (3 patients) and pericardial cavity (3 patients). Cardiac Hydatid cyst diagnosis was established by transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) and transoesophageal echocardiography (TEE) in all cases. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed echographic finding. All patients were operated. The operation finding confirmed the imaging data. Only one patient died in the post operative period. No recurrence or associated complication were reported in the late follow up.

CONCLUSION

In presence of atypical symptomatology in a patient coming from an endemic area of hydatid cyst the diagnosis of cardiac echinococcosis is possible. TTE and TEE are the imaging procedure of choice and sufficient for the diagnosis of cardiac hydatid cyst. CT and/or MRI provide more information about the extension of echinococcosis diseases in other intra or extrathoracic location.