Suppurated mediastinal and cardiac echinococcosis: report of a case.

We herein report the case of a suppurated mediastinal and cardiac hydatid cyst which occurred after the initial treatment of the patient for a primary mediastinal hydatid cyst in a radiology department. Both extracorporeal circulation and total circulatory arrest were used during the operation. We believe that surgery is the only feasible treatment for hydatid cysts located in the mediastinum, and surgery should be urgently performed whenever a possible rupture is suspected in order to avoid a possible anaphylactic reaction, mediastinal suppurations leading to serious complications, and growth into the pleural cavity.