ABSTRACT

Diagnosis of paracardiac masses is problematic in clinical practice, and they may remain asymptomatic for a long period. We herein report a case of mass posterior to the heart in a 57-year-old male. Computed tomography examination showed a thin-walled cystic mass containing liquid, suggesting a relationship with pericardium at first. Further examination with transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography revealed that paracardiac mass did not have any relationship with heart structure. The patient underwent thoracic surgery and the pathologic examination revealed that the mass was an echinococcus cyst.