[Fatal rupture of an echinococcal cyst into the right atrium].

The case of a man 32 years of age with echinococcosis of the heart who died due to rupture of a pericardial echinococcal cyst into the right atrium with the range into the pulmonary circulation and fatal embolism of the branch of pulmonary artery is presented. Such localization of echinococcus is extremely unusual as well as the complication it caused, and promoted this report which is very instructive for a clinician, the more so that the patient was surgically treated, but irregularly followed up, and the disease had a poor outcome. Prophylaxis with albendazole over a period of one month and more frequent control examinations by means of adequate diagnostic methods in such cases is stressed.