Echocardiography Findings in 16 Cases of Cardiac Echinococcosis: Proposal for a New Classification System

Cardiac cystic echinococcosis-A systematic review and analysis of the literature

Human cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a parasitic infection caused by the larval stage of the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, primarily affecting the liver and lungs. Although the heart is affected in only 0.02-2% of all CE cases, a considerable number of cases have been, and continue to be, published. However, due to the rare occurrence of cardiac CE and the resulting lack of clinical trials, knowledge about various aspects of the disease remains limited. To obtain a clearer picture of anatomical, clinical, diagnostic as well as therapeutic aspects of cardiac CE, we systematically reviewed the literature published between 1965 and 2022. The anatomical pattern of the affected cardiac structures follows the extension of the supplying capillary bed. The majority of patients (82.7%) are symptomatic and present with prolonged non-specific symptoms such as dyspnoea, chest pain and palpitations. Acute complications generally derive from cyst rupture, occur in 18.3% of cases and manifest as embolism, pericardial tamponade, or anaphylactic reaction in 83.2%, 17.8% and 10.9% of these cases, respectively. As for CE cysts localized in other organs, the diagnosis of cardiac CE is made by imaging. Serology plays a minor role due to its limited sensitivity. Unlike abdominal CE cysts, cardiac CE cysts are usually resected independent of their stage (active/inactive), because their presence impairs cardiac performance and carries the risk of long-term sequelae. More than 80% of patients are treated with a single surgical intervention. We found a disease-related case fatality rate of 11.1%. Since local recurrence was reported up to 108 months and secondary CE up to 72 months after surgery, patients should be followed up for a minimum of 10 years.

Cardiac hydatid disease; a systematic review

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES

Human cystic echinococcosis (CE), is a common health problem in low- and middle-income countries. Cardiac involvement is a relatively rare manifestation of Echinococcus infection. This study aims to summarize the evidence regarding the features of cardiac CE.

METHODS

Case series of the patients with cardiac CE, were included in this study. Non-English papers, case reports, reviews, letters, , commentaries, and conference abstracts were not included. A systematic search was conducted in PubMed and EMBASE databases and the risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Checklist.

RESULTS

Out of 3985 results of the searches, finally 37 studies were included in this systematic review. Based on available evidence, cardiac involvement is an uncommon but serious presentation of CE which presents with some non-specific signs and symptoms. Dyspnea, chest pain, and palpitation are the most common symptoms of the disease and normal sinus rhythm is the most common Electrocardiogram (ECG) feature. The disease is not associated with high mortality in case of timely diagnosis and appropriate management.

DISCUSSION

Consecutive and complete inclusion of participants, statistical analysis, and appropriate reporting of the demographics were the sources of bias in the included studies. The exclusion of non-English papers was a limitation during the review process.

FUNDING

The research protocol was approved and supported by the Student Research Committee, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences (grant number: 69380).

REGISTRATION

This study was registered in the International prospective register of systematic reviews (PROSPERO ID: CRD42022381204).

Cardiac Echinococcosis Associated with Other Organ Involvement: Report of Two Challenging Cases

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Cardiac echinococcosis is a rare but potentially fatal manifestation of hydatid disease.

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Antiparasitic agents with surgical cyst excision is the treatment of choice.

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Heart team decision-based management is warranted in cases of other organ involvement.

[Cardiac hydatid cyst. Which imaging modality for an accurate diagnosis?]

Cardiac echinococcosis is rare. Its spontaneous course is serious because of the risk of rupture. Its clinical manifestations are variable, often latent and misleading. The diagnosis is sometimes referred to by chest radiography. It is much facilitated by non-invasive imaging techniques in particular transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiography, CT scan and magnetic resonance imaging. The latter through a morphological and topographical analysis accurate diagnosis of hydatid cyst and its relationship to cardiac muscle and surrounding tissue. Through functional analysis in cine cyst movements relative to the heart wall, it confirms its free or fixed character in the heart chambers, determines its insertion area, its deformability, the risk of rupture and its impact on myocardial contraction. Our case illustrates the relative contribution of these different imaging techniques and their respective contributions to the identification of hydatid cyst of its wall, its contents, its relationship with the various tunics and heart chambers and its relations with the lungs and mediastinum.

Usefulness of bubble study in echocardiographic diagnosis of contained rupture of hydatid cyst in the right ventricular outflow tract

We describe an adult female presenting with dyspnea in whom both transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography detected a mobile sac-like structure in the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) containing a heterogenous echogenic mass. This sac-like structure markedly changed its shape and size during the cardiac cycle. These findings and the fact that the patient lived in a rural area raised the possibility that this was a hydatid cyst. A bubble study using normal saline was useful in detecting a contained rupture of the cyst. Bubble echoes were noted within the sac-like structure but did not penetrate the inner wall of the cyst which contained echogenic material, indicating that the rupture was confined only to the outer layers. At surgery, a 0.5 cm communication was noted between the cyst and the RVOT and pathology confirmed the diagnosis of hydatid cyst.

Giant cardiac hydatid cyst in children: case report and review of the literature

Cardiac echinococcus is a rare affliction of the heart caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. Primary echinococcosis of the heart represents 0.5–2% of all hydatid disease cases in endemic regions. It evolves slowly, explaining its rarity in children. We report the case of a 11-year-old child affected by a giant cardiac cyst of the left ventricle (LV). The patient underwent cardiac surgery and medical treatment. A retrospective review of the current literature was realized. We found 18 cases: the mean age was 11-years old. Nine cysts were localized in the LV, four in the interventricular septum, three in the right ventricle, and two in the right atrium. All underwent surgery except six patients. Routine echocardiographic screening may be useful in endemic regions where infestation is common. Cardiac echinococcus should be diagnosed in the early and uncomplicated stages and be removed surgically even in asymptomatic patients.

Surgical treatment and outcome of cardiac cystic echinococcosis

OBJECTIVES

Cardiac cystic echinococcosis (CE), or hydatid cyst is exceptionally uncommon. We review the experience of surgical treatment of cardiac CE.

METHODS

Twenty-six patients (11 females; mean age, 28.9 ± 7.6 years) with cardiac CE undergoing surgical treatment from February 1978 to April 2013 were reviewed. The operative methods mainly included puncture-aspiration cystectomy, intact endocyst enucleation and total cyst resection.

RESULTS

Cardiac CE was located in the myocardium in 16 cases, pericardium in 8 and both myocardium and pericardium in 2. There were 21 cases with solitary hydatid cyst including at the left ventricle in 7, right ventricle in 5, right atrium in 2, interventricular septum in 1 and at the pericardium in 6; 5 cases were with multiple cysts. There was no operative mortality. All patients received albendazole postoperatively. The mean follow-up time was 68 ± 21 months (range 7-195 months) except for 4 who were lost to follow-up. There were three recurrences and one late death.

CONCLUSIONS

Cardiac cystic echinococcosis (CE) remains a very infrequent zoonotic infection. Presenting symptoms of cardiac hydatid disease are variable depending on the size, number and location of the cyst. Echocardiography, corroborated with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging, affords the best diagnostic and follow-up confirmation. Surgical treatment is associated with a low morbidity and mortality, and the selection of proper technique is very important to completely remove the hydatid cyst and prevent recurrence. Postoperative oral antiparasitic therapy is necessary for a definitive cure.

Isolated pericardial echinococcosis: Perioperative transesophageal echocardiographic evaluation

Hydatid cyst (HC) is a human parasitic disease caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus. Cardiac involvement is rare and occurs in 0.5%-2% of patients with hydatid cyst, but isolated pericardial hydatid cyst is rarer still. We present two cases of isolated pericardial hydatid cyst who presented with precordial chest pain and dyspnea. In both the cases, HC were diagnosed by transthoracic echo (TTE), Computed Tomography/Magnetic Resonance and positive hydatid serology. Intraoperatively transesophageal echo (TEE) revealed unilocular transitional cystic lesion the transverse pericardial sinus in one case and multilobulated active cystic lesion in another. The report highlights the role of TEE in diagnosis and evaluation of cardiac HC. Both the cases underwent surgical resection followed by albendazole therapy to prevent recurrence.

Cardiac echinococcosis

Objective

Cardiac echinococcosis is an extremely rare disease, seen worldwide. Some clinical characteristics are unknown, and treatment modalities are unclear.

Methods

41 patients diagnosed with cardiac or pericardial echinococcosis underwent surgery. We evaluated the patients echocardiographically in 8 different categories: cardiac echinococcosis lesions located within the heart, imaging appearance of each lesion, activity of the cysts, mode of cardiac echinococcosis, and number of cardiac lesions per patient. The surgical technique was reevaluated according to the intraoperative echocardiographic findings, especially according to the mode of the lesion.

Results

The hydatid cysts were located in the ventricular wall in 34 cases, the right atrium in 2, the noncoronary sinus Valsalva of the aorta in 1, between the aorta and the pulmonary bifurcation in 1, and in the pericardium alone in 4 cases. In 1 case, septal rupture occurred and the patient died. Relapse was seen in 1 patient who was operated on due to multiple ventricular and pericardial cysts; this patient underwent a second operation 6 years and 8 months after the initial surgery.

Conclusion

Recent echocardiographic developments and application of intraoperative echocardiography enables a detailed classification for extirpation, and allows successful treatment.

Syncope as the primary manifestation of hydatid cyst. Report of two cases with different etiologies

Hydatid disease is a parasitic infestation that is caused by the larvae of the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. Clinical manifestations are extremely variable and related to the location and the size of the cysts. Syncope as the first clinical presentation of hydatid cyst is a very rare condition. Herein, we report two cases of patients with cardiac and pleural hydatid cysts who had syncope as the initial symptom.

Extremely rare cardiac involvement: recurrent pericardial hydatid cyst

Echinococcus granulosus is a common infestation in sheep and cattle raising countries. Although it is typically encountered in liver and lung, rare cardiac involvement of this infestation has very important clinical complications such as heart failure, valve regurgitation, pericardial effusion-tamponade and arrhythmia. In addition, pericardial infestation is an extremely rare condition of Echinococcus granulosus. Here, we report a case of recurrent pericardial hydatid cyst presenting exertional dyspnea, palpitation and presyncope attacks in a 72-year-old man. The diagnosis of recurrent pericardial hydatid cyst was made by transthoracic echocardiography, computed tomography and surgical history.