Cardiac tamponade due to rupture of a hepatic hydatid cyst into the pericardium

We describe a patient with a hydatid cyst in the left liver lobe that ruptured into the pericardial sac. resulting in cardiac tamponade. The chest x-ray showed prominent enlargement of the cardiac shadow. Ultrasonographic and tomographic examinations showed the cyst to be communicating with the pericardial sac. Cyst drainage with partial cystectomy and omentoplasty was performed. © 1992 S. Karger AG, Basel