Multimodality imaging of an interventricular septum hydatid cyst

BACKGROUND

Cardiac hydatid over the interventricular septum is extremely rare. Echinococcus infests humans as an accidental host. Echocardiography usually clinches the diagnosis of cardiac hydatid. However, multimodality imaging including cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging, computed tomography (CT), and positron emission tomography (PET) helps in supporting the diagnosis and surgical planning.

CASE PRESENTATION

We present a 29-year-old male who presented with dyspnea and was found to have cardiac hydatid on the interventricular septum on echocardiography. CT and CMR clinched the diagnosis. CT pulmonary angiography showed extensive pulmonary thromboembolization and cavitary consolidation in lungs. PET showed no active uptake in cardiac hydatid. Post-surgical enucleation of the cyst his hypotension worsened and succumbed.

CONCLUSION

Cardiac hydatid has poor prognosis. Multimodality imaging helps in confirming the diagnosis and surgical planning.

Staged management of a giant cardiac hydatid cyst: a case report

BACKGROUND

We report on a 21-year-old patient with a giant symptomatic hydatid cyst of the interventricular septum, to whom a staged management approach was employed. Induction medical therapy led to a reduction in the size of the cyst, which was then completely removed via surgical excision.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 21-year-old male Caucasian, with main complaints of fatigue and palpitations, was referred to our Centre due to a cystic formation in his left ventricle. The workup consisted of transthoracic echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance, which revealed a huge hydatid cyst in an active stage of disease, occupying the basal and mid part of the interventricular septum. Due to the size of the lesion and lack of viable myocardium in the affected area, the patient was declared inoperable and medical therapy was initiated. Serial echocardiography revealed a significant reduction in the size of the lesion and degradation to transitional and inactive stage, after which successful surgical excision of the cyst was performed. In the course of the medical treatment, the patient experienced sustained ventricular tachycardia causing loss of consciousness, which did not reoccur after surgical excision.

CONCLUSION

Medical therapy can result in the degradation of a giant heart hydatid cyst, enabling surgical excision. Heart hydatid cyst can lead to potentially lethal arrhythmia irrespective of its size and stage, which does not reoccur after successful surgical excision.