Abstract
The clinico-radiological findings and management of 61 patients with proven hepatic
echinococcal cysts (HEC) examined over the past 5 years were retrospectively analyzed.
The sonography and computed tomography (CT) scan findings were studied before and
after therapy. The indications, healing, and complications rates for each therapeutic
modality were recorded. There is a predominance of HEC in adult females (female to
male ratio, 1.77:1). The majority of patients complained of abdominal pain (39/61;
64.4%), and the majority of cysts were solitary (43/61; 70.5%), localized in the right
lobe (47/61; 77.0%), and superficial (57/61; 93.4%). Few cysts were complicated by
rupture, intraperitoneal (2/61; 3.2%), or intrabiliary (5/61; 8.2%). Medical treatment
consisted of antihelmintic chemotherapy alone in eight patients with an adequate response
in seven patients (7/8; 87.5%). Thirty-two patients had open or laparoscopic surgery
with a cure rate of 50%. The other 50% had major complications requiring a further
adjuvant therapy for a complete cure. Nine patients underwent percutaneous catheter
ablation combined with adjuvant chemotherapy; healing was observed in eight patients
(8/9; 88.8%). HEC are best treated by nonsurgical minimally invasive techniques combined
with adjuvant antihelmintic chemotherapy, while surgery should be reserved for complicated
HEC by intraperitoneal rupture.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Received:
March 22,
2001
Identification
Copyright
© 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
