Pericardial, myocardial, and extracardiac cysts diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography

Excerpt

A 28-year-old woman was admitted to our clinic with atypical chest pain. A physical examination of the patient’s respiratory and cardiovascular system as well as her electrocardiogram were normal. Two-dimensional echocardiography showed multiple cardiac cysts in the left and right ventricular myocardial walls and in the pericardium (Fig. 1, Fig. 2). A classic echolucent liquid-filled image characteristic of hydatid cysts was seen. In the subcostal view, we detected a large, multivesicular, and calcified mass in the liver tissue also consistent with a hydatid cyst (Fig. 3). The left ventricular ejection fraction assessed by M-mode and Simpson’s method was 60%. Systolic pulmonary artery pressure calculated from the tricuspid regurgitation jet was 40 mmHg. Routine laboratory test results were normal, including complete blood count as well as liver and kidney function tests. Serological test results for Echinococcus granulosus by indirect immunohemagglutination (IHA; Hydatidose, Fumouze Laboratoires, France) were positive at 1/320. Albendazole therapy (10 mg/kg/day) was started and surgical treatment was recommended. However, the patient refused surgery and was discharged at her own request. …