Hydatid cyst of the lung

Following a summary of the natural biological cycle of Taenia echinococcus granulosus, the hydatid vesicle is described with its walls and contents. The chapter on the geographical distribution and epidemiology of hydatidosis shows that the disease is ubiquitous, spares no continent and is particularly frequent in Mediterranean countries and Latin America. The natural course of the pulmonary hydatid cyst is presented in 6 successive radioclinical stages and illustrated by radiological images that are most characteristic of each of these stages. The diagnosis of the disease is studied, with emphasis on the usefulness of serological tests. Treatment, which nowadays is exclusively surgical, must be preceded by careful preoperative evaluation. The surgical techniques are well codified and relatively simple. Medical treatments with "larvacidal" drugs are under study, but their effectiveness does not seem to have been demonstrated. The author concludes by insisting on the need for implementing the well-known and simple preventive measures which can be effective on the sources of infestation, on the chain of parasite transmission and on the subjects at risk.     

Hydatid cyst disease

Since 1936, 13 patients (9 men and 4 women) had hydatid cyst disease at the Lahey Clinic. The cysts involved the liver in 11 patients, the spleen in 2 and the brain in 1 patient. All patients had surgery; operations were marsupialization, resection of cyst, splenectomy or craniotomy. Two patients died postoperatively, and 1 patient had incapacitating ascites due to peritoneal seeding after a cholecystectomy.     

Hydatid cyst of the right ventricle

A 35 years old women has had palpitations for the last six months on auscultation she has a mid systolic clic. The echocardiogram shows a typical aspect of right ventricular hydatid cyst. The right and left catheterization confirms the diagnosis. A thoracic scan is done to rule out other localisations. The patient is successfully operated. The authors emphasized the importance of an echocardiogram in a visceral or secondary localisation of echinococcosis.     

Hydatid cyst of the heart and pericardium

Between 1977 and 1988, six young patients (average 22 years) underwent surgery for cardiac echinococcosis. Three had a single cyst and the others had multiple cysts which ruptured into the pericardium. The diagnosis was always confirmed by cross-sectional echocardiography and cardiac angiography. Surgery was always performed through median sternotomy using cardiopulmonary bypass. Morbidity and mortality were nil and late results were satisfactory.     

Hydatid cyst of gall bladder.

Gall bladder hydatid cyst is a rare entity. Concurrent occurrence of gall blader hydatid cysts along with liver cysts, especially with the biliary channels clear of cysts, is very rare. We report a 27-year-old man with a gall bladder hydatid cyst that was diagnosed only after opening the resected specimen of the gall bladder.     

Hydatid cyst of the heart simulating coronary ischemia

Cardiac echinococcosis is rare despite endemic occurrence of echinococcosis in some regions of the world. Clinical presentation can vary and may be misleading. Diagnosis is facilitated by new imaging techniques. Surgery is mandatory to avoid serious complications. We report a case of cardiac echinococcosis with pseudo, ischemic clinical and electrical presentation.     

Hydatid cyst in the wall of the ascending aorta

Hydatid disease rarely involves the aortic wall. We report a case of hydatidosis involving the ascending aorta and the left atrium. The patient underwent replacement of the ascending aorta with a prosthetic Dacron graft and left atrial cystectomy. At the 6-month follow-up, she was leading a normal life.     

Hydatid cyst of the right ventricle in early pregnancy

Although hydatic cyst disease rarely involves myocardium and endocardium, cardiac echinococcosis, a potentially life-threatening condition, should be managed promptly. We report a case of right ventricle hydatid cyst detected after syncopal attack in a pregnant woman by using echocardiography .     

Hydatid disease of the lung mimicking a pericardial cyst

We report a young girl who presented to us with chest discomfort and had a paracardiac mass on chest radiograph. Computerised tomographic (CT) scan of the thorax was suggestive of pericardial cyst. Hydatid serology was negative. The cyst was excised.     

Hydatid cyst of the heart located in the interventricular septum

Cardiac hydatosis is a rare condition, and the localization of a hydatid cyst within the interventricular septum is exceptional. A 61-year-old man found to have a hydatid cyst of the interventricular septum is reported. Presenting manifestations were congestive heart failure and signs suggestive of an aortic valvulopathy. Diagnosis was made by Doppler echocardiography and confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. The cyst was approached surgically by right ventriculotomy. Despite a technically successful intervention without rupture of the cyst or appearance of a conduction delay, the patient died on the 20th postoperative day because of acute respiratory distress syndrome complicating infectious pneumonia.