Hydatid Cyst of the Left Ventricle of the Heart Bahi Hiyasat, 1*Ashraf Abu Alsamen, 2 Omar Oudat, 2 Marwan Nimri 2 Abstract
The present study involves a 47-year-old male patient from Jordan that presented with a history of progressive shortness of breath and chest tightness. Cardiac hydatidosis was diagnosed based on typical radiological findings and a positive serology test. Intra-operatively, there was a mass of a hydatid cyst located in the left ventricle and interventricular septum with no other organs involved. The patient was treated by a surgical excision and albendazole without any complications.
Keywords: Albendazole, Hydatid cyst, Left ventricle, Surgery. (J Med J 2012; Vol. 46 (4):381- 384) Received Accepted Introduction
Laboratory blood tests showed no abnormality in
A hydatid cyst or cystic echinococcosis is caused
the blood-cell count, and liver or kidney function
by the larval stage of the tapeworm Echinococcus
granulosus. Dogs and other canines expel the adult tapeworm eggs in their feces and humans
become infected after ingestion of the eggs.
distortion of cardiac borders (figure 1). The EKG
Clinical presentations vary as these cysts might
was normal sinus rhythm with diffuse T wave
be found anywhere in the body causing different
changes. A two dimensional Echocardiography
signs and symptoms.1, 2 Liver (65%) and lungs
(2D Echo) showed a normal left ventricle and a
(25%) are the most common sites to be infected.
Hydatidosis is a noteworthy health problem in many regions and especially the Middle East.3, 4
A dynamic chest computed tomography (CT) that was done on February 2008 (figure 2) revealed
Case Report
multiple low-attenuation non-enhancing (cystic) lesions of different sizes arising from the
A 47-year-old patient was referred to our
myocardium of the left ventricle and the
Cardiology Clinic at the Queen Alia Heart
interventricular septum. One of them rises from
the left atrium. The largest one measured 95 × 60
breathlessness for the last 2 years. The symptoms
were aggravated in the last 6 months to the
calcifications in their wall and some showed
degree that it interfered with his daily activities.
small cystic lesions inside. There were no lung lesions, no pleural effusion and no lymph node enlargement.
1. Cardiac Surgery Department, Queen Alia Heart Institute, King Hussein Medical Center, Amman, Jordan. 2. Cardiology Department, Queen Alia Heart Institute, King Hussein Medical Center, Amman, Jordan. * Correspondence should be addressed to: Bahi Hiyasat P. O. Box: 3262, Amman 11953, Jordan. E-mail: bahihiy@hotmail.com 2012 DAR Publishers⁄ University of Jordan. All Rights Reserved. Hydatid Cyst of the Left Ventricle of the Heart… Bahi Hiyasat et al.
A transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) revealed a large non-homogenous mass with multiple cystic lesions inside arising from the apex site.
The patient missed the follow up and came back one year later, after which his chest (figure 3), abdomen, and pelvic CT scan (done on 02/01/2009) showed a huge pericardial cystic lesion with a court wheel appearance Figure (2): Dynamic Chest CT scan done 2008. compressing the right ventricle to the right. The cyst was bulging interiorly through the left chest wall. Another cyst was located subcarinal and inferior to the left atrium. There was a pleural effusion with a subsegmental collapsed consolidation with the enlargement of multiple anterior mediastinal left pericardial lymph nodes. Other organs were normal.
Treatment was done by the complete surgical excision of the cyst where through a Figure (3): Dynamic Chest CT scan done in midsternotomy incision and under 2009. cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), a left ventriculotomy incision was performed. Before Discussion
puncturing and to avoid embolization as well as to prevent the possible introduction of free
Cardiac hydatid cysts are rare lesions accounting
scolices to other cardiac structures, the cyst was
for about 0.5 - 2% of all hydatidosis cases. It is
covered with wet sponges to minimize the
most commonly a manifestation of a systemic
contamination as much as possible. A cystectomy
infection. However, if the heart is involved, the
was done after sterilization with a hypertonic
outcome is potentially lethal.5, 6 Symptoms and
saline solution and needle aspiration of the cystic
signs of cardiac involvement vary according to
contents. The cavity was opened, and the residual
the cyst size and its location. Only 10% of
contents and the germinative membrane were
patients especially those with large cysts may
removed. The ventriculotomy incision was
have clinical manifestations. 7 Chest pain,
closed linearly in the standard fashion. Medical
palpitations, and dyspnea are the most common
treatment was continued using Albendazole 200
associated symptoms.8 The coronary circulation is
the pathway for the larvae to reach the myocardium. The most frequent chamber involved is the one with the largest blood supply which is the left ventricle accounting for 55- 60% of the cases followed by right ventricle, interventricular septum, left atrium, right atrium, interatrial septum respectively.9
Myocardium involvement may lead to life-threatening complications, including cyst rupture, tamponade, anaphylactic shock, embolism, acute coronary syndrome, infection, valvular
Figure (1): Chest X-ray showing cardiomegaly with distortion of cardiac borders. J Med J 2012; December: Vol. 46 (4) http:⁄⁄dar.ju.edu.jo⁄jmjHydatid Cyst of the Left Ventricle of the Heart… Bahi Hiyasat et al.
A cardiac echinococcosis diagnosis is a difficult
4. Demircan A, Keles A, Kahveci FO, Tulmac M,
issue; geographical areas where the disease is
Ozsarac M. Cardiac tamponade via a fistula to the
endemic are an alarm for the possibility of
pericardium from a hydatid cyst: case report and
carrying the disease during a visit. Clinical
review of the literature. J Emerg Med. 2010; 38: 582–586.
suspicions, cardiac imaging and serologic tests
5. Xing Y, Bawudong D, Zhang WB, Liu WY, Pan
compose the principles for diagnosis. Chest x-
CX, Wen H, Li CW. Multi-detector CT and MR
rays and electrocardiograms can show changes
imaging cardiac hydatidosis: case report and
that are not particular for the disease.11
review of the literature. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging. 2011 Dec; 27 Suppl 1: 97-102.
While echocardiography is considered highly
6. Canpolat U, Yorgun H, Sunman H, Aytemir K.
specific and a sensitive method for diagnosis still
Cardiac hydatid cyst mimicking left ventricular
aneurysm and diagnosed by magnetic resonance
(magnetic resonance imaging) are needed for
imaging. Turk Kardiyol Dern Ars. 2011 Jan; 39(1):
7. Miralles A, Bracamonte L, Pavie A, Bors V,
Serological tests including immunoglobulin
echinococcosis. Surgical treatment and results. J
Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 1994; 107: 184-90.
(ELISA) carry a high sensitivity (94%) and
8. Moro P, Schantz PM. Echinococcosis: a review.
specificity (99%) for the majority of cyst
9. Yaliniz H, Tokcan A, Salih OK, Ulus T. Surgical
treatment of cardiac hydatid disease: a report of 7
The treatment of choice for a cardiac hydatid cyst
cases. Tex Heart Inst J 2006; 33(3): 333–9.
is early surgical resection where it is better to be
10. Alehan D, Çeliker A, Aydıngöz U. Cardiac hydatid
performed with the use of a cardiopulmonary
cyst in a child: diagnostic value of echocardiography and magnetic resonance
bypass so as to get a better view of the cardiac
imaging. Acta Paediatr Jpn 1995; 37: 645-7.
structures and cysts and prevent systemic
11. Eylem Tuncer, Serpil Gezer Tas, Ilker Mataraci,
embolization.11 Akar and colleagues reported a
Altug Tuncer, Arzu Antal Donmez, et al. Surgical
Treatment of Cardiac Hydatid Disease in 13
Atrioventricular block, ventricular arrhythmias
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and myocardial tearing are some recognized
12. Kelle S, Köhler U, Thouet T, Fleck E, Nagel E.
Cardiac involvement of Echinococcus granulosus evaluated by multi-contrast CMR imaging. Int J
Medical therapy using benzimidazoles to prevent
cyst recurrence is highly recommended. Together
13. Force L, Torres JM, Carrillo A, Busca J.
Evaluation of eight serological tests in the
with others, 11, 16 we used Albendazole 400 mg
diagnosis of human echinococcosis and follow-up.
twice daily starting one week before surgery and
14. Akar R, Eryilmaz S, Yazicioglu L, Eren NT,
Durdu S, Uysalel A, et al. Surgery for cardiac
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