Peritoneal echinococcosis: anatomoclinical features and surgical treatment

Imaging features and management of focal liver lesions

Notably, the number of incidentally detected focal liver lesions (FLLs) has increased dramatically in recent years due to the increased use of radiological imaging. The diagnosis of FLLs can be made through a well-documented medical history, physical examination, laboratory tests, and appropriate imaging methods. Although benign FLLs are more common than malignant ones in adults, even in patients with primary malignancy, accurate diagnosis of incidental FLLs is of utmost clinical significance. In clinical practice, FLLs are frequently evaluated non-invasively using ultrasound (US), computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Although US is a cost-effective and widely used imaging method, its diagnostic specificity and sensitivity for FLL characterization are limited. FLLs are primarily characterized by obtaining enhancement patterns through dynamic contrast-enhanced CT and MRI. MRI is a problem-solving method with high specificity and sensitivity, commonly used for the evaluation of FLLs that cannot be characterized by US or CT. Recent technical advancements in MRI, along with the use of hepatobiliary-specific MRI contrast agents, have significantly improved the success of FLL characterization and reduced unnecessary biopsies. The American College of Radiology (ACR) appropriateness criteria are evidence-based recommendations intended to assist clinicians in selecting the optimal imaging or treatment option for their patients. ACR Appropriateness Criteria Liver Lesion-Initial Characterization guideline provides recommendations for the imaging methods that should be used for the characterization of incidentally detected FLLs in various clinical scenarios. The American College of Gastroenterology (ACG) Clinical Guideline offers evidence-based recommendations for both the diagnosis and management of FLL. American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD) Practice Guidance provides an approach to the diagnosis and management of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. In this article, FLLs are reviewed with a comprehensive analysis of ACR Appropriateness Criteria, ACG Clinical Guideline, AASLD Practice Guidance, and current medical literature from peer-reviewed journals. The article includes a discussion of imaging methods used for the assessment of FLL, current recommended imaging techniques, innovations in liver imaging, contrast agents, imaging features of common nonmetastatic benign and malignant FLL, as well as current management recommendations.

Very Prolonged Treatment with Albendazole of a Case of Disseminated Abdominal Cystic Echinococcosis

Cystic echinococcosis is a zoonosis caused by the ingestion of food or water contaminated by Echinococcus eggs. E. granulosus is the most common causative agent of cystic echinococcosis that still has a relevant incidence in Italy, especially on the islands of Sicily and Sardinia. We report the case of a 64-year-old man with disseminated abdominal cystic echinococcosis (liver, spleen, peritoneum). The patient was asymptomatic and non-eligible for surgical treatment. Treatment with albendazole 400 mg/twice daily was started in 2012 for 15 cycles (each cycle consisted of three 28-day treatments at 14-day intervals) over 10 years for a total of 1260 days of treatment. Serum anti-Echinococcus antibody titers and imaging (echography, TC) were evaluated to monitor the evolution of the disease. Imaging techniques documented the regression of all cyst lesions, but it was less evident for the peritoneal localizations that still are in follow-up. In this case, the prolonged treatment with albendazole was effective, safe and free of side effects. Until today, the patient displays a good clinical condition.

Hydatid cysts of the liver with concomitant massive peritoneal hydatidosis: a case report

The worldwide distribution of Echinococcus granulosus and its capability to persist in the human organism by causing serious medical and economical damage makes this parasite popular in terms of diagnosis and treatment implementation. Besides the liver as the primary target organ for this parasite, cases of secondary peritoneal hydatidosis are reported. Although rarely, they present with unusual abdominal symptoms with a bizarre presentation on abdominal ultrasound and Computerized Tomography scans. We present a case of a 44 years old male patient with concomitant presence of liver hydatid cysts and massive peritoneal hydatidosis treated with a combination of surgery and postoperative medications. The treatment of peritoneal hydatidosis consists of surgical removal of all the present cysts. In addition, anti-parasitic drugs are recommended to prevent a recurrence. The concomitant presence of liver hydatid cysts and peritoneal echinococcosis can appear as a result of abdominal trauma or iatrogenic spillage during abdominal surgery.

Management of peritoneal hydatid cysts: A fourty-year experience

BACKGROUND

Hydatid disease is a global problem. We report our experience with such cases where the dominant cysts were located outside the liver and lungs. In particular, these cysts were found in the peritoneum which is an uncommon location.

METHODS

Between 1967 and 2007 a total of 34 patients were operated for primary or secondary peritoneal cysts. Most of the patients were asymptomatic or had atypical symptoms. The diagnosis was based on the preoperative history, rupture of the cysts, serology, ultrasound (USS) and computer tomography (CT). Open surgery was the procedure of choice with conservative (18 cysts) and radical (25 cysts) methods.

RESULTS

The outcome of surgery was good without postoperative mortality or severe morbidity and the recurrence rate was 23.5%.

CONCLUSIONS

Conservative surgery can provide good results in symptomatic peritoneal cysts. Radical therapy is also ideal but only in properly selected cases. The management of this situation is difficult requiring sound operative experience preferably with a one-stage procedure after an appropriate preoperative preparation.

Ileal bronchogenic cyst: A case report and review of literature

We herein report a rare case of ileal bronchogenic cyst that was found in a 39-year-old Chinese man. He had no symptoms and the physical examination was normal. Tumor markers were within the normal range. Abdominopelvic enhanced computed tomography showed a mass in the lower abdominal cavity and the tumor had a complete capsule. Diagnostic laparoscopy was then performed, which showed that a spheroid mass with a complete capsule was located at the antimesenteric border of the distal ileum 20 cm from the ileocecal valve, measuring 6.0 cm × 6.0 cm × 5.0 cm. Considering that the malignancy of the tumor cannot be ruled out, and there is a risk of rupture during laparoscopic surgery, the patient was converted to an open surgery. Partial resection of the ileum with the tumor was performed, followed by a side-to-side anastomosis. The tumor was gray-red in color, filled with grayish yellow mucus and had no septum. The postoperative pathology revealed that the cystic wall was lined by pseudostratified ciliated columnar epithelium without cellular atypia. The wall consisted of bronchial mucous glands and smooth muscle fibers, and no abnormalities were found in adjacent ileum tissues. Thus, a diagnosis of bronchogenic cyst of the ileum was made.

Intrapelvic Localised Hydatid Cyst

Hydatid cysts, caused by Echinococcus granulosus, is an important health problem in endemic areas. The disease can localize most commonly in the liver and lungs. Primary pelvic involvement is a rare condition. In this case report, we aimed to present a 75-year-old male patient with a pelvic mass, which was diagnosed preoperatively as a hydatid cyst.

Unusual presentation of severely disseminated and rapidly progressive hydatic cyst: Malignant hydatidosis

The infection caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus leads to the development of hydatic disease. It is the most frequent mediterranean parasitic infection that commonly affects the liver and rarely involves multiple organs. Herein, we report an exceptional and confusing presentation of hepatopulmonary and splenic hydatidosis due to Echinococcus granulosus that caused diagnostic problems occuring in a 70-year-old man, treated with chemotherapy, with favorable outcome. This was a very unusual case of disseminated hydatid cyst highlighting the interest of keeping a high level of clinical suspicion of this diagnosis every time we have a cystic lesion of the liver.

Radical Surgery for Liver Hydatid Cyst

Background and aims: Surgery is the basic treatment for liver hydatid cyst (LHC). Radical procedures (pericystectomy (PK) and hepatic resection (HR)) offers better results in selected cases cases than conservative approaches. Aims of this study were to evaluate the results of Radical surgery for LHC and and to determine witch of these two procedures is safe in experienced hepato-biliary surgical unit in endemic countries. Methods: A retrospective cohort study of 143 patients with liver hydatid cyst who underwent radical procedures at a single surgical department in an endemic country were reviewed. Mortality, morbidity and recurrence rates have been analyzed. Results: Thirty-two patients (22.4%) had a HR and 111 patients (77.6%) had a PK. Mortality rate was 1.4% (n=2) in HR group. Overall morbidity rate was 18.9% and vs 28.1% respectively in PK and HR group (p=.26). Postoperative bleeding occurred in 1.8% in PK group vs 3.1% in HR group (p=.535) and specific LHC operative complication occurred in 17.1% in PK group vs 28.1% in HR group (p=.167). Recurrence rate of LHC was 6.3% in PK group vs 6.6% in HR group (p=.999) after a median follow up of 108 months (54-144) vs 89 months (44-135) respectively. Conclusion: Radical surgery for LHC is safe. Each of PK and HR had a specific indication. A good screening of patient's guarantied a good outcome. Keywords: Liver, Hydatid Cyst, Morocco, Radical Surgery.

Disseminated intra-abdominal hydatidosis

We present the case of a 26-year-old male Peruvian patient who presented with disseminated intra-abdominal hydatidosis. The patient was treated with surgical removal of the cysts and prolonged medical treatment with albendazole.