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Cite this article:
Leila Abid, Lobna Laroussi, Med Abdennadher, Sameh Msaad, Imed Frikha, Samir Kammoun. A cardiac hydatid cyst underlying pulmonary embolism: a case report. The Pan African Medical Journal. 2011;8:12 Key words: Echinococcosis, Hydatidosis, Pulmonary embolism, cardiac, hydatid cyst Permanent link: http://www.panafrican-med-journal.com/content/article/8/12/full Received: 28/12/2010 - Accepted: 12/02/2011 - Published: 20/02/2011 © Leila Abid et al. The Pan African Medical Journal - ISSN 1937-8688. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. |
A cardiac hydatid cyst underlying pulmonary embolism: a case report
Leila Abid1,&, Lobna Laroussi1, Med Abdennadher2, Sameh Msaad2, Imed Frikha2, Samir Kammoun2
1Cardiology Department, Hedi Chaker University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia, 2Cardiosurgery Department, Habib Bourguiba University Hospital, Sfax, Tunisia
&Corresponding author
Cardiology Department, Hedi Chaker Hospital, Route Elain, Km 0.5, 3029, Sfax, Tunisia
Abstract
Hydatid cysts located in the interatrial septum are especially rare but when they occur, they might cause intracavity rupture. We report on a patient with acute pulmonary embolism caused by an isolated, ruptured hydatid cyst on the right side of the interatrial septum. A 16-year-old-boy with an uneventful history was hospitalized for exercise-induced dyspnea and blood expectorations. Multiple and bilateral opacities were visualized on standard chest x-ray. Signs of right-sided hypertrophy were seen on ECG. Imaging findings led to the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism complicating cardiac hydatid cysts. An operation was performed through median sternotomy to remove the cardiac cyst. The pleural cavity was entered through the fifth intercostal space to withdraw lung hydatid cysts. Operative recovery was uneventful and the patient resumed his normal activities 19 months later. Prompt diagnosis and an appropriate surgical treatment prevented a potentially fatal outcome.
