Hydatid cyst in a 10-year-old boy: an unusual location

Hydatid disease, caused by echinococcus granulosus, is a common infectious disease in endemic areas such as Southern Europe and the Middle East. The incidence of this disease, however, is on the increase in Northern Europe due to the migration of labor and also tourism. We report a case of the hydatid cyst of the mediastinum, the diagnosis of which was established by the hemagglutinin test and echocardiography and confirmed by histological examinations. The cyst was totally removed during surgery on beating heart. The patient presented herein demonstrates that the mediastinal and cardiac involvement in hydatid disease could manifest in children with fast growth and rupture

Supravalvular and valvular aortic stenosis in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia

To report calcified aortic stenosis due to hyper-cholesterolemia in two siblings. Case Presentation and Intervention: A 13-year-old boy with a history of dyspnea on exertion and a systolic murmur of aortic stenosis was referred to our center. Echocardiography showed combined valvular and supravalvular aortic stenoses with a good left ventricle systolic function and severe left ventricular hypertrophy. Two years later his 17-year-old sister was referred to the clinic with similar symptoms. Severe valvular aortic stenosis was detected by echocardiography. Selective coronary angiography showed significant involvement. The father had a history of hypercholesterolemia and confirmed coronary artery disease involving 3 vessels. Angiography showed anterioapical and inferiobasal hypokinesis with preserved left ventricle systolic function. The mother and the other two siblings did not have hyperlipidemia, thereby indicating heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia in the two affected siblings. The siblings were managed with atrovastatin and nicotinic acid and cholestyramine was added stepwise. The father was treated with lovostatin. This report shows that severe hyperlipidemia in very young patients may be a risk factor for valvulopathy