title: A clinical dilemma: cardiac and pericardiac echinococcosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cardiac and pericardial echinococcosis as a life-threatening disease may present with a clear picture most of the time, however it may also become a clinical puzzle.
  
  
  METHODS
  In the period between 1977 and 1998, 14 patients were operated on with the diagnosis of cardiac and pericardial echinococcosis. Nine patients were operated on with standard cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) techniques, and the remaining 5 patients were operated on without CPB. Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) or intraoperative surface echocardiography were used to plan and perform the operation for the late cases.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One patient died during the postoperative period due to the rupture of interventricular septum. All other patients survived the perioperative period, received mebendazole treatment, and exhibited no recurrence during the follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The definitive treatment is the surgical extraction of the cyst. Because the clinical picture may vary according to the number, size, and location of cysts, as well as complications, cardiac echinococcosis should be remembered and included in the differential diagnosis to achieve the treatment. Intraoperative surface echocardiography is of paramount value for diagnosis and planning the management of a successful surgery.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Türkiye Yüksek Ihtisas Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. b_levent@hotmail.com
authors.forename: C L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Birincioğlu
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bardakci
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Küçüker
authors.forename: A T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Ulus
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arda
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Yamak
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Taşdemir
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009202:Cardiomyopathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D002315:Cardiopulmonary Bypass; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery*; D004452:Echocardiography; D017548:Echocardiography, Transesophageal; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008463:Mebendazole / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative; D010496:Pericardium / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000601:surgery; D011182:Postoperative Care
chemical_list: D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D008463:Mebendazole