Acute Popliteal Artery Embolism Due To Ruptured Mediastinal Hydatid Cyst Into Thoracic Aorta – A Case Report .

A 40 year old female presented with the clinical features suggestive of acute arterial occlusion of the right leg for one day . Compression Ultrasonography revealed a linear membrane like defect in the right popliteal artery suggestive of an embolus . Patient was subjected to emergency catheter embolectomy revealing a laminated hydatid membrane within the artery . The patient was evaluated postoperatively and CECT chest documented a primary mediastinal hydatid cyst eroding into descending thoracic aorta . The mediastinal lesion was later treated with total cyst excision . In endemic areas, it is important to consider hydatid cysts in the differential diagnosis of an acute arterial occlusion .