Cardiopericardial hydatid cysts.

Cardiac hydatic cyst is a rare parasitic disease. We reported 45 patients with cardiac hydatid cysts; 33 of the 45 had a primitive, unique cardiac cyst. Altogether, 18 patients of our series were asymptomatic, and 27 patients complained of symptoms (dyspnea, chest pain, palpitations). In 11 cases the cyst was revealed by an acute complication; 3 of the 11 had pulmonary metastatic hydatidosis. The diagnosis was based on a series of test results in which hydatid serology and imaging (echocardiography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging) played a predominant role. Cystopericystectomy is the gold standard procedure but is sometimes unsuitable for particular sites. In that case, a conservative approach (partial pericystectomy) is mandatory to preserve organ function. The operative mortality rate is 5.5%. Two pericardial recurrences were reported during follow-up.