CARDIAC HYDATID CYST : A CASE REPORT

The larval and adult form of Echinococcus granulosus tapeworm causes cystic hydatid disease. Cardiac echinococcosis is a rare but potentially very serious complication of hydatid disease. It is potentially fatal pathology that may cause valvular dysfunction, conduction disturbances or may lead to congestive heart failure, rarely mimics acute coronary syndrome. Cardiac involvement is rare and accounts for 0.5-2% of all hydatid disease and involvement of the interventricular septum is rare. We report surgical treatment of a large cardiac hydatid cyst in the interventricular septum. In cases of an interventricular cardiac hydatid cyst, the combination of surgical resection, washout of the remaining cavity with hypertonic saline solution, and albendazole therapy typically yields excellent results.