Isolated pericardial hydatid cyst: a case report

Hydatid cysts are most commonly found in the liver and lungs but rarely in the heart. Most heart hydatid cysts are located in the left ventricle and the interventricular septum. Few cases of isolated pericardial hydatid cysts have been reported in the literature. Cardiac involvement can have serious consequences and can be fatal if the cyst perforates. Methods for diagnosing cardiac hydatid cysts include serological tests and noninvasive imaging tests such as transthoracic echocardiography, computed tomography, and magnetic resonance imagery. CASE PRESENTATION: Here we report a rare case of an isolated pericardial hydatid cyst in a young woman who complained of sternal chest pain, palpitations, and shortness of breath. The diagnosis of pericardial hydatic cyst in our case was confirmed by serologic tests for hydatidosis and the results of echocardiography and tomography. No other localizations were found after realizing a body scan. The patient was started on oral albendazole and then was referred to surgery for the resection of the cardiac mass. CONCLUSION: Cardiac hydatid cyst represents a rare disease, frequently associated with fatal complications, which makes its early diagnosis and treatment an urgent priority.