CARDIOVASCULAR ECHINOCOCCOSIS

Four cases of cardiovascular echinococcosis are reported. In two patients the myocardium was involved: one presented with intractable congestive heart failure and in the second it was an incidental finding at autopsy. In the third case, chronic pulmonary hypertension proved to be due to hydatid cysts in the main branches of the artery at postmortem examination. The fourth patient had a cyst in the pericardial sac which was successfully treated by surgery. The clinical diagnostic and pathologic features are discussed and the pertinent literature is reviewed. © 1969.