DOI: 10.12890/2025_005667
Isolated mitral valve hydatid cyst mimicking myxoma: a rare case of mitral valve echinococcosis
Authors
nanikogonjilashvili@gmail.com
Keywords
Cardiac echinococcosis, hydatid cyst, mitral valve, intracardiac mass, parasitic infectionAbstract
Background: Cardiac involvement by Echinococcus granulosus is extremely rare, accounting for less than 2% of all hydatid disease cases. When it occurs, it commonly affects the left ventricle, while valvular involvement is exceedingly unusual.
Case Presentation: We present the case of a 74-year-old woman from rural Georgia who developed progressive exertional dyspnoea and fatigue. Physical examination revealed multiple murmurs, and transthoracic echocardiography identified a mobile, hyperechoic mass attached to the posterior mitral valve leaflet. Transoesophageal echocardiography raised suspicion for a myxoma or vegetation, and surgical excision was pursued due to embolic risk. Intraoperatively, a teardrop-shaped cystic mass containing multiple daughter cysts was found on the P2 segment of the mitral valve. Histopathology confirmed a hydatid cyst, consistent with cardiac echinococcosis. The patient underwent successful segmental excision of the cyst with mitral valve repair and tricuspid annuloplasty. Her postoperative course was complicated by atrial fibrillation and new-onset type 2 diabetes mellitus. She was treated with albendazole and discharged in stable condition.
Conclusion: This report highlights a rare instance of isolated mitral valve echinococcosis, initially misdiagnosed as a myxoma. It underscores the importance of considering parasitic aetiologies in the differential diagnosis of intracardiac masses, particularly in patients with rural backgrounds.
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