Myocardial Ischemia Simulated by Cardiac Hydatid Cyst: Case Report

Two-dimensional echocardiography, computed tomography, left ventriculography and coronary arteriography were performed in a 37-year-old man who had substernal chest pain at rest and ischemic type ST-T changes on the ECG. A diagnosis of cardiac hydatid cyst was made. The cyst had a diameter of 38 mm and was located within the lateral free wall of the left ventricle. Coronary arteriography detected that the lumina of the arteries were patent, and we suggested that the "ischemic type" ECG and clinical findings were due to the cyst compressing the adjacent heart muscle. After surgical excision of the cyst the patient was free from chest pain, and ECG changes regressed partially.