1. Introduction
It is the cosmopolitan antropozoonose which raises a real problem of the public health. The mediastinum localization of the hydatid cyst is extremely rare representing 0% to 4% of all the hydatic localizations. It raises gladly a delicate diagnostic problem with the cystic hurts of the mediastinum.
We report a case of mediastinum hydatid cyst collaged in the general surgery service at the 5th Military Hospital.
2. Observation
It was about a 48-year-old man, without particular pathological histories, living in rural areas presenting the notion of contact with dogs, who accused a dyspnoea with chronic cough evolving for six months in an apyretic context and a preservation of the general state. The lung radiography objectified a mediastinal extension.
The thoracic scanner showed a voluminous cystic mass interesting the retro sternal previous mediastinum prevascular meadow in fine wall, in regular limit and homogeneous contents without partitions nor vegetations intra cystic. It presents an intimate contact with the big vascular trunks but with the net interface, in seen report the clinical context with a hydatid cyst (Figure 1).
The biological balance showed a sedimentation speed raised to 34 mm at first hour associated with a hyper eosinophilia. The hydatid serology was negative; a preoperative abdominal echograph in search of a second localization was normal. The surgical operation was realized by a sternotomy allowing to treating the hydatid cyst by a peri cystectomy. The follow-up were simple. No case of second recurrence on a backward movement of two years.
3. Discussion
The mediastinal localization of the hydatidosis is extremely rare; the incidence is from 0 to 4% of all the visceral localizations. It does not exceed 0.1% in the western countries .the mediastinum hydatid cyst represent 4% of all the mediastinal masses in the countries of hydatic endemic disease [1] . They are the privilege of the young adult, without ascendancy of sex.
Two mechanisms can be at the origin of this localization, the parasite having exceeded the hepatic and lung filters penetrates into the systematic circulation and can settle in the mediastinum. The second mechanism is the one of a progress by lacteals and lymphatic ways [2] .
The clinical symptom is not specific, dominated by signs of compression. All the localizations in the mediastinum are possible with a preference for the posterior mediastinum [1] [3] .
Hydatid cysts of the posterior mediastinum can entail pains and neurological signs with possibility of erosion of ribs and vertebras. Hydatid cysts of the average mediastinum, sitting in the basis of the heart or at the level of the stick can provoke a fatal bleeding by vascular erosion. Hydatid cysts of the previous mediastinum can entail a tracheal compression or superior cellar and sometimes invade the pericardium. Cardio phrenic hydatid cysts show themselves by a syndrome of cardiac tumor and can break in the cardiac cavities [4] [5] .
The hydatic serology is fundamental, sometimes allowing to assert the diagnosis [2] [4] [6] . The standard radiography of lung shows a mediastinal extension associated or not to a cardiomegaly, the calcifications of the wall observing during primitive hydatid cyst of the mediastinum, they represent a not insignificant diagnostic argument, but they remain rare [6] .
Figure 1. Thoracic scanner showing a cystic formation of the retro sternal previous mediastinal and the vascular meadow.
The thoracic echograph practiced for hydatid cysts close to the wall, to the diaphragm and intra cardiac, is a very successful examination, because it allows to recognize the liquid character and the fine wall of the cyst and to specify the topography. The image of a solid “little spherical bell” within the liquid, within the unsticking of membrane or of vesicles girls, is strongly suggestive of the diagnosis, but rarely observed [6] [7] ).
The echograph also allows to specify the existence of an effusion. The magnetic resonance imaging [1] [4] [8] -[10] is little used in this localization. It will bring certainly useful information for the positive diagnosis of the hydatid cyst of the mediastinum, in particular in the difficult cases, by detecting vesicles girls or floating membranes inside the hydatid cyst. It will also allow specifying better the topography of these hurts and the reports with the organs of neighborhood. It is also interesting in the cardiac localization.
In country of endemic disease, the diagnosis bases essentially on the clinic exam and the scanner. In the countries where the hydatidosis is rare, the diagnosis will make discuss the other cystic hurts of the mediastinum [10] -[14] in particular the bronchogenic cyst which is generally attached to the bronchial tree and presents a thick wall with a thick contents, of density spontaneously high, not enhancing after contrast.
With the enteric cyst of posterior seat with the contact of the esophagus, the variable density is according to the contents and is in relatively thick wall. This cyst is mostly associated with vertebral anomalies.
With the lymphangioma cyst which is more frequent at the child’s of mostly cervical seat with generally a mediastinal extension. The hurt is multi-compartmentalized, among which the wall and the partitions raise after injection of contrast.
And with the pleuro pericardiac cyst which is translated by a mass of liquid density without recognizable wall of triangular aspect and sharp at the level of the part with a pericardiac attach what is an argument in favour of the diagnosis.
4. Conclusion The mediastinal localization of the hydatid cyst is rare. The imaging presents a double interest within the framework of the hydatidosis that of the positive diagnosis by making a fine analysis of the radiological images and their report with the organs of neighborhood, and the balance assessment of extension in search of extra mediastinum hydatid localization.
NOTES
*Corresponding author.