Pneumopericardium and Hydatid Cyst

pp 801-803

Abstract

We present the case of a 45-year old male patient from the southern part of the province of Buenos Aires. One month prior to admission, he was hospitalized at another facility where a subxiphoid drainage was performed for a mediastinal hydatid cyst; a chest CT scan performed before the drainage showed a cystic lesion in contact with the thickened pericardium (Figure 1). Days later, he presented with a pericardial effusion without signs of tamponade. Chest X-rays revealed pericardial distension with a fluid-air level (Figures 2 and 3). Referred to our hospital with a diagnosis of hydropericardium and a right anterior mediastinal cyst, the cyst was resected, revealing a communication between it and the pericardium. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of a complicated hydatid cyst, and the pericardial cavity contained abundant fibrin deposits. The patient progressed favorably and was discharged with albendazole as specific therapy. Subsequently, he developed constrictive pericarditis.