Beyond the expected: left ventricular myocardial hydatid cyst a case report

Hydatid disease is an infection caused by the larval form of Echinococcus. It is a zoonosis primarily affecting the lungs and liver. While pulmonary involvement is most common, the cysts can develop in various extrapulmonary sites within the thorax, such as the pleural cavity, fissures, mediastinum, heart, vascular structures, chest wall, and diaphragm. However, intracardiac localization of hydatid cyst is very rare and it is found in less than 2% of cases. Cardiac involvement can be caused by systemic or pulmonary circulation, or by direct spread from adjacent structures. Imaging techniques, particularly MRI, play a crucial role not only in diagnosing hydatid cysts, but also in assessing their extension and identifying complications. We report a case of a 13-year-old girl, with a left ventricular myocardial hydatid cyst.