Contemporary Multimodal Radiological Approach to the Diagnosis of Atypically Localized Echinococcal Cyst

A pericardial echinococcal cyst is a rare manifestation of hydatid echinococcosis, which can be diagnosed only through the use of advanced imaging techniques. The article describes a clinical case where a space occupying formation in the anterior mediastinum was discovered incidentally during a routine fluorographic examination in a 61-year-old patient. Comprehensive imaging diagnostics including thoracic computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging suggested that the cyst had an echinococcal origin. The key diagnostic indicators were the multicameral structure of the formation, the presence of calcifications in the walls and septa, as well as the absence of contrast agent accumulation. Video-assisted thoracoscopic removal of the cyst followed by histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of echinococcosis. This case report highlights the importance of using multimodal imaging techniques for the precise diagnosis of rare forms of echinococcosis and selecting the optimal treatment strategy.