Cardiac echinococcosis causing coronary artery disease

We report a case of cardiac echinococcosis in a patient who had sustained a n acute myocardial infarction 1 month previously. The coronary angiographic study revealed an isolated complete intrinsic obstruction of the left ante rior descending coronary artery in the area of the cyst. The cyst was surgi cally removed. Coronary artery bypass grafting was not performed because of distal myocardial scarring. Coronary arteriography should routinely be per formed in all patients with cardiac echinococcosis. (C) 1999 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.