Case Session 03: Pericardial Disease (2018)-Primary pericardial hydatidosis (Echinocococcosis): a great mimicker.

Primary pericardial hydatidosis (Echinocococcosis): a great mimicker.

Video Transcription

Video Summary

The speaker discussed rare primary pericardial echinococcus (hydatid disease) as a major imaging mimicker of cardiac, mediastinal, and pericardial masses. He reviewed the parasite’s life cycle, worldwide endemicity, and pathology, then presented unusual cases from Chandigarh, including calcified ruptured pericardial cysts, loculated pericardial effusion mistaken for tuberculosis, and arrhythmia-related cysts with daughter cysts. Key diagnostic points on CT and MRI included a cystic lesion, T2 bright content, hypointense rim or membranes, daughter cysts, and lack of enhancement. He emphasized MRI as a problem-solving tool to avoid misdiagnosis, unnecessary procedures, and serious complications.

Keywords

pericardial echinococcus

hydatid disease

cardiac mass imaging

MRI diagnosis

pericardial cysts