Diagnosis and treatment of mycotic aneurysms secondary to cardiac hydatid cyst: An unusual cause of multiple cerebral strokes in a 23-year-old female

Abstract

Mycotic aneurysms (MA) are a rare but severe complication of systemic infections, carrying a high risk of rupture, hemorrhage, sepsis, and potential multiple organ failure. Intracranial arteries are often affected and present a significant mortality risk due to cerebral bleeding and ischemic strokes. In this paper we describe the case of a 23-year-old female patient who presented with a sudden onset of right hemiparesis, followed by loss of consciousness. Cerebral imaging revealed multiple infarcts in both hemispheres and intracranial hemorrhage secondary to ruptured pseudoaneurysms. On transthoracic echocardiogram, she was found to have a left ventricular cardiac cyst with mobile vegetations potentially responsible for mycotic aneurysms and cerebral strokes. The patient underwent endovascular embolization for the mycotic aneurysms and cardiac surgery for the left ventricular cyst with satisfying clinical outcomes. Postsurgical analysis revealed the cyst to be of hydatid (Echinococcus) origin.

Keywords

• CT
• MRI
• DSA