Cardiac cystic echinococcosis: Report of three cases

Abstract

We present a retrospective analysis of three cases of cardiac hydatidosis, who underwent surgery between 2010 and 2012. Two patients had a lesion in the interventricular septum, whereas one patient had the lesion in apicoinferior wall of LV. The diagnosis was made by echocardiography, but magnetic resonance imaging was utilized to assess cyst activity and extend of disease. All patients were placed on cardiopulmonary bypass. No postoperative complication or death occurred. The patients discharged uneventfully and all of them were free from hydatid disease at two years follow up. We concluded that cardiac hydatid cysts should be removed surgically regardless of their location or extent, even in asymptomatic patients.