Pericardial cyst in a one-year-old boy with ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus.

BACKGROUND

Pericardial cysts are rare, with the most common etiology being congenital. Ventricular septal defect is the most common congenital heart disease in children. However, the combination of pericardial cyst, ventricular septal defect, and patent ductus arteriosus is extremely rare.

CASE PRESENTATION: A one-year-old boy with ventricular septal defect and patent ductus arteriosus was planned for surgical correction. Intraoperatively, we made an additional diagnosis of a large pericardial cyst; and the cyst was excised along with ventricular septal defect closure and patent ductus arteriosus ligation.

CONCLUSIONS

Pericardial cysts can sometimes be missed with transthoracic echocardiography. Excision of the cyst can safely be done during concomitant cardiac surgery.