# Cardiac hydatidosis mimicking ischemic heart disease: A case report

## TL;DR

A woman in Peru had a rare heart condition caused by a hydatid cyst, which was mistaken for heart disease but successfully treated with surgery and medication.

## Contribution

This case report highlights cardiac hydatidosis as a rare but important differential diagnosis in patients with angina-like symptoms and cardiac masses.

## Key findings

- A 44-year-old woman with cardiac hydatidosis presented with chest pain and T-wave inversions, mimicking ischemic heart disease.
- Surgical excision and albendazole therapy led to successful treatment and asymptomatic recovery at 16-month follow-up.
- The case emphasizes the need for awareness of cardiac hydatidosis in endemic regions to avoid misdiagnosis.

## Abstract

Cystic echinococcosis (CE), caused by Echinococcus granulosus, is a zoonotic disease with cardiac involvement reported in less than 2 % of cases but associated with significant clinical challenges. We describe a 44-year-old woman from Peru who presented with exertional chest pain and T-wave inversions on electrocardiography. Imaging revealed a large multiloculated cystic mass with peripheral calcifications in the left ventricular wall, and Western Blot serology confirmed CE. The patient underwent surgical excision under cardiopulmonary bypass, followed by albendazole therapy. Histopathology confirmed a non-viable hydatid cyst. Postoperative recovery was uneventful, and she remained asymptomatic at 16-month follow-up. This case underscores the importance of considering cardiac hydatidosis in endemic regions when evaluating patients with angina-like symptoms in the presence of a cystic cardiac mass on imaging. Public awareness, improved medical education, and ongoing research are crucial to better managing this condition.