1. Solitary pericardial hydatid cyst.
- Author
-
Rena O, Garavoglia M, Francini M, Bellora P, Oliaro A, and Casadio C
- Subjects
- Africa, Northern, Aged, Albendazole therapeutic use, Anticestodal Agents therapeutic use, Atrial Fibrillation diagnosis, Atrial Fibrillation parasitology, Chest Tubes, Combined Modality Therapy, Drainage, Echinococcosis complications, Echocardiography, Electrocardiography, Female, Heart Diseases complications, Humans, Magnetic Resonance Imaging, Patient Selection, Pericardiectomy, Pericardium, Tomography, X-Ray Computed, Treatment Outcome, Echinococcosis diagnosis, Echinococcosis surgery, Heart Diseases diagnosis, Heart Diseases surgery
- Abstract
Hydatid cyst of the heart is an uncommon presentation of human echinococcosis which may lead to life-threatening conditions. Diagnosis should be suspected in every case of cyst-like mass in persons coming from areas where echinococcus granulosus is endemic. Echocardiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging can help in the differential diagnosis of the lesion. Even if some reports of successful therapy with benzimidazoles have been described, the treatment of choice is the surgical excision of the cyst. Pericardiectomy with cyst removal is feasible with low morbidity and mortality rates even in elder patients. The authors describe the successful surgical management of a single giant pericardial hydatid cyst in a 78-year-old woman from North Africa.
- Published
- 2004