Extensive pulmonary artery embolisation caused by cardiac hydatid cyst rupture

Abstract

This case study is a rare example of cardiac hydatidosis in a high-income country, where a middle-aged man presented with a ruptured right ventricular cyst causing anaphylaxis, pulmonary emboli and dissemination of Echinococcus throughout the lung. He survived the cyst rupture and underwent cardiac surgery but had incomplete resection and experienced progressive cardiopulmonary hydatidosis despite antihelminthic therapy. As a result, he experienced an array of cardiopulmonary sequelae over his lifespan. This case report highlights rare clinical manifestations of hydatid disease and potential complications of its treatment.

Keywords: heart failure; pneumonia (respiratory medicine); pulmonary embolism.

Figure 1

CT pulmonary angiogram (coronal section) showing widespread vascular dissemination of hydatid disease causing large pulmonary hydatid masses (*).

Figure 2

CT pulmonary angiogram (axial section) showing a markedly dilated right heart (A), the hydatid cyst attached to the right ventricular apex and septum (B), and a cavitating lesion in the left lung (C).