Right atrial hydatid cyst associated with multiple organ involvement: case report

Case report: Right atrium-inferior vena cava bypass in a patient with unusual cardiac cystic echinococcosis

Cardiovascular hydatid disease is caused by parasitic infection of Echinococcus granulosus, which could be asymptomatic or life-threatening depending on lesion site, granuloma size, and disease progression. Diagnosis and treatment of cardiac echinococcosis should be under comprehensive consideration. In this case, we reported a successful right atrium-inferior vena cava bypass surgery in a 31-year-old female with unresectable right atrial echinococcosis and inferior vena cava obstruction.

Right ventricle hydatid cyst requiring tricuspid valve excision

Hydatid cyst in the heart is uncommon, with cardiac involvement occurring in about 0.4-2% of all hydatid infestations. The right ventricle is only rarely involved accounting for 8% of cases. We report a case of a hydatid cyst located in the right ventricle involving the posterior papillary muscle requiring tricuspid valve excision.

Pulmonary hydatid and other lung parasitic infections

The lung may be infested by a great number of parasites. Hydatidosis is the most frequent parasitic lung disease. Diagnosis of lung hydatidosis is usually easy on chest radiography, ultrasonography, and CT scan, and immunodiagnosis may help in dubious cases. Surgery is necessary in most cases, but it must be conservative. Complex forms, such as disseminated disease and secondary lung hydatidosis (metastatic or bronchogenic) are difficult to treat and may be considered malignant. Medical treatment may be helpful in complex forms, in poor surgical risk patients, and in cases of preoperative spillage of hydatic fluid. Prevention programs are necessary in endemic areas, and research must be directed toward vaccination against the parasite. Other parasitic diseases are reported less frequently in the literature, and the majority of published articles are either case reports or only report a small number of cases. Clinical presentation is variable according to the great variety of parasites that may involve the lungs.