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With the advancement of precise hepatobiliary surgery concepts, the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches for hepatic echinococcosis have undergone significant transformations. However, whether these changes have correspondingly improved patient outcomes remains unclear. A retrospective analysis of these changes will provide crucial guidance for the prevention and treatment of hepatic echinococcosis. Clinical data from 6 hospitals in Xinjiang region of China from January 2009 to December 2023 were collected and systematically random sampling was conducted. The study was divided into the first stage (2009-2013), the second stage (2014-2018), and the third stage (2019-2023) with a 5-year time node to compare the changes in diagnosis and treatment mode and clinical features. There was no significant difference in the age of onset among patients across different phases (P = 0.759). The frequency of open cystectomy gradually decreased [302 (62.3%), 223 (53.0%), 165 (55.7%), P = 0.015], while the rate of total cystectomy increased steadily [82 (16.9%), 88 (20.9%), 94 (23.7%), P = 0.040]. The proportion of patients admitted due to screening also increased [367 (75.7%), 373 (88.6%), 364 (91.9%), P < 0.001]. Preoperative imaging techniques evolved from being singular to diversified. Postoperative recurrence rates declined over time [89 (18.4%), 53 (12.6%), 32 (8.1%), P < 0.001], as did the incidence of grade C bile leakage [88 (18.1%), 51 (12.1%), 20 (5.1%), P < 0.001]. However, the incidence of intraoperative bleeding ≥ 800 ml showed an upward trend [39 (8.0%), 53 (12.6%), 60 (15.2%), P = 0.004]. No significant differences were observed in clinical classification across different periods, but average hospitalization costs increased. The data across all groups indicated that herdsmen remain the most affected population, while the incidence among students gradually decreased. Over the past 15 years, both the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches and the prognosis of patients with hepatic echinococcosis in the Xinjiang region of China have improved. Laparoscopic total cystectomy is gradually becoming the preferred surgical approach for these patients, and early screening efforts have benefited an increasing number of patients., Competing Interests: Declarations. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Ethical approval: This study was approved by the Clinical Research Ethics Committee of the People’s Hospital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (KY2023060146)., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Echinococcosis or hidatid disease is a parasitic illness which is caused by the most common pathogens Echinococcus granulosus , E. multilocularis and E. oligarthrus . When the agent gets into the organism, it penetrates the organ and forms a cyst. Cysts are located more often (75%) in the liver where they exist without any clinical manifestation. They can be located in other internal organs: lungs, the heart and others. The localization of cysts in several organs simultaneously is a very rare case. The article aims to demonstrate a patient who had a combined echinococcosis of the lungs, heart and liver.

Competing Interests: P. Deprez has received consultancy fees from Boston Scientific. J. Revés, B. Delire, and A. Dongier declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Hydatid cysts, caused by Echinococcus species, are zoonotic diseases frequently observed in endemic regions worldwide, including Turkey. It is most commonly localized in the liver, followed by the lungs. Anaphylaxis and peritonitis, which develop after cyst rupture, are the most significant complications observed in these patients. Early diagnosis and prompt surgical intervention are extremely important. This study presented an extremely rare case of a hepatic hydatid cyst ruptured into the thorax, which may have high morbidity and mortality. A 24-year-old male patient presented to our emergency department with cough, dyspnea, fever, and allergy symptoms. He had a history of hepatic hydatid cyst surgery 5 years ago. Physical examination revealed urticarial lesions on the skin. The body temperature was 39 °C, and the pulse rate was 120 beats/min. Laboratory tests revealed leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein. Contrast-enhanced thoracic and abdominal computed tomography was performed. Diagnostic tests revealed that the patient had a ruptured hepatic hydatid cyst in the right thoracic cavity; hence, he was scheduled for emergency surgery. Laparotomy was performed via a right subcostal incision, and the ruptured cyst was located. It was understood that this cyst had fistulized into the diaphragm during a chronic process and subsequently ruptured acutely into the thorax. Partial cystectomy was performed for a ruptured liver cyst. The diaphragm was repaired, and catheters were placed in the thorax and abdomen for drainage. There were no other postoperative complications. Rupture of hydatid cyst disease is frequently observed in endemic regions. The rupture of a hepatic hydatid cyst into the thorax is an extremely rare event. In patients presenting with pulmonary symptoms who have a history of hepatic hydatid cyst surgery, the abdomen should always be thoroughly evaluated, and emergency surgery should be performed if required., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

A complex liver lesion presents a significant challenge in terms of diagnosis and management. This case is an illustrative example, highlighting the steps involved in managing such complex scenarios. This patient, in her early 20s, presented with a fever associated with worsening abdominal pain, as well as a background history of chronic abdominal pain, anorexia, vomiting, constipation and weight loss. The radiology revealed an irregular complex cyst in the liver with biliary and vascular invasion, raising concerns about hepatocellular carcinoma. The diagnosis was changed to alveolar echinococcosis after the infectious diseases consultant gave helpful advice, and echinococcosis antibodies were found. We subsequently started the patient on albendazole therapy. Following prudent advice from hepatobiliary surgeons and given the complexity of the hepatic lesion, a liver transplant was considered the best management option due to the extensive involvement of the biliary and venous systems. The combined approach of albendazole and a liver transplant marked a transformative phase for this patient, putting an end to her prolonged suffering., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© BMJ Publishing Group Limited 2024. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Background: Alveolar Echinococcosis (AE) is a malignant zoonotic disease caused by Echinococcus multilocularis infection. Considering whether the lesion is accompanied by vascular invasion (VI) is crucial for treatment strategies. A cost-effective and convenient clinical diagnostic method is urgently needed to supplement current techniques. Consequently, we detected soluble CD155 (sCD155) as a potential biomarker for diagnosing VI in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE)., Methods: Blood samples were from 42 AE patients and 49 healthy controls (HCs). Based on the computed tomography (CT) and contrast-enhanced CT, AE patients were further categorized into HAE with VI (VIAE; 27 cases) and HAE without VI (NVAE; 15 cases). The sCD155 concentration was measured by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Correlations between sCD155 expression levels and clinicopathological features of AE patients were analyzed using SPSS and GraphPad Prism software., Results: The sCD155 concentrations in AE patients were significantly higher than in HCs. The serum sCD155 level significantly differed between the VIAE and NVAE groups. The univariate analysis showed that VI of AE was significantly correlated with the sCD155 level when the sCD155 was greater than 11 ng/mL. After adjusting for potential confounding factors, the multivariable analysis showed that sCD155 had an independent effect on VI of HAE. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that sCD155 could differentially diagnose VI of HAE at the cut-off value of 11.08 ng/mL with an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.75. The sensitivity and specificity were 74.07 % and 66.67 %, respectively; the positive and negative predictive values were 74.07 % and 60.00 %, respectively., Conclusion: The sCD155 could be a VI biomarker for HAE. Elevated sCD155 levels are indicative of an increased likelihood of concomitant VI in HAE patients, necessitating a thorough evaluation of vascular impairment and the formulation of individualized management strategies., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: Cystic echinococcosis is a zoonosis caused by the parasite Echinococcus granulosus. The disease rarely occurs in Norway, but constitutes a significant global health issue., Case Presentation: A man in his forties presented with right-sided flank pain. CT scan of thorax and abdomen revealed a 10 cm cystic lesion in the liver, suggestive of cystic echinococcosis. Serological test for specific antibodies was positive. Before transfer to a tertiary centre for liver surgery, he developed a cough. Repeated CT scan of thorax and abdomen showed perforation of the liver cyst through the diaphragm and into the right lung. He underwent a thoracolaparotomy and en bloc resection of liver segments 5, 7, 8, adjacent part of the diaphragm, and right lower and middle lung lobe., Interpretation: With increasing immigration, we believe it is imperative for healthcare professionals in regions with low prevalence of cystic echinococcosis to consider the possibility of this disease when encountering patients with unexplained liver cysts and relevant exposure.

Cystic echinococcosis, a zoonotic disease that poses a significant threat to human health and animal husbandry development, is prevalent across the world and predominantly occurs in agricultural and pastoral regions. However, cystic echinococcosis cases are rare in non-endemic areas, which is likely to cause misdiagnosis or missing diagnosis, resulting in delay in treatment. This report presents an overseas imported cystic echinococcosis case misdiagnosed as pulmonary and hepatic cysts, so as to provide insights into diagnosis and treatment of cystic echinococcosis in non-endemic areas.

Introduction: Alveolar echinococcosis is an endemic parasitic disease prevalent in certain cold regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including Eastern France, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, and the United States. Widely underdiagnosed, it is associated with infection by Echinococcus multilocularis, a small tapeworm belonging to the cestode class, capable of causing multi-systemic involvement, particularly in elderly or immunocompromised patients., Case Report: We present the case of an 82-year-old patient, immunocompromised due to prolonged corticosteroid therapy and treatment with dupilumab. She was referred to our department for a diagnostic assessment of atypical hepatic and pulmonary lesions, initially suspected of tuberculosis or an IgG4-related disease. The hypothesis of alveolar echinococcosis caused by E. multilocularis was eventually considered based on a set of arguments, further confirmed by molecular diagnosis. We discuss the role of dupilumab in the systemic evolution and atypical presentation of the disease, through the induction of a specific immunosuppression., Conclusion: Alveolar echinococcosis should be systematically considered in case of systemic disease with prominent hepatic and pulmonary involvement, especially in immunocompromised patients., (Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.. All rights reserved.)

BACKGROUND Hydatid disease is a common parasitic infection in many areas of Asia, South America, and Africa. It can affect any organ, most commonly the liver. The hydatid is often asymptomatic and the diagnosis is made when complications arise. The most common complication of this disease is opening in the bile ducts, which is a life-threatening condition causing serious acute cholangitis. We report a case of acute cholangitis caused by hydatid cyst rupture into the right bile duct. CASE REPORT A 33-year-old woman, with no medical or surgical history, presented to our Emergency Department with abdominal pain, jaundice, and fever for 3 days prior to admission. The patient was hemodynamically stable. In the examination, we noticed right upper-quadrant tenderness with guarding, icterus sclera, and negative Murphy sign. A CT scan showed a liver hydatid cyst of the 4th and 8th of segments, with intrahepatic and extrahepatic biliary duct dilation. The cyst communicated with the right hepatic bile duct via a large fistula. A diagnosis of acute cholangitis was made and she underwent conservative treatment with external drainage of the pericystic cavity through the biliary duct. The postoperative course was uncomplicated and she was discharged 15 days later. CONCLUSIONS The surgical approach to hepatic hydatid must be customized based on the specific characteristics of the cyst and associated complications. Acute hydatid cholangitis is a rare but serious complication of a hydatid cyst, which requires early diagnosis and adequate surgical management.

Background: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a zoonotic disease with an Africa-wide prevalence of 1.7%. CE is caused by the tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, with the liver being the most commonly affected organ. In South Africa (SA), there is a paucity of data on liver CE demographics and management., Objectives: To describe the demographics and clinical profile of patients with liver CE in a single tertiary hospital in Eastern Cape Province, SA., Methods: A 4-year (2019 - 2022) retrospective clinical record review study was conducted on patients presenting with liver CE to the Department of Surgery at Frere Hospital. The demographics, clinical characteristics and management of patients with liver CE are reported., Results: A total of 56 patients diagnosed with and managed for liver CE were included in the study. The mean age of the patients was 37.5 years. Abdominal pain (n=39; 69.6%) was the most common presenting symptom, and a palpable abdominal mass (n=36; 64.3%) was the predominant presenting sign. Most patients had disease confined to the liver (n=35; 62.5%). The right lobe of the liver was most commonly affected (n=38; 67.9%), and most patients had a single liver cyst on imaging (n=32; 57.1%). The majority of the patients (n=36; 64.3%) were managed with surgical partial cystectomy, with a perioperative bile leak being the most common complication., Conclusion: In our setting, liver CE contributes to a significant local burden of the disease. The disease often has a nonspecific clinical presentation, necessitating imaging for the diagnosis. We observed good short-term outcomes in patients managed with combined partial cystectomy and medical therapy, although there is a risk of perioperative bile leak.

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE), caused by Echinococcus multilocularis, is an aggressive and potentially critical infestation that primarily affects the liver and can metastasize to any part of the body. We herein report two cases of echinococcosis, which could be differentiated from malignancy on imaging studies, with infections of the liver and mediastinal lymph nodes, and also associated with systemic disseminated lesions. AE is a very invasive infectious disease, and in order to detect such lesions at an early stage when they are still resectable, it is necessary to understand the characteristic imaging findings and determine the patient's current medical history.

BACKGROUND Hepatic hydatid cyst disease, caused by the parasite Echinococcus granulosus, is endemic in certain rural areas of the world, but not in most of East Asia outside Mainland China. In Taiwan, only one autochthonous case has been reported over the past 40 years. We present the case of an urban 91-year-old female patient without international travel history for more than 40 years. CASE REPORT The 91-year-old woman who used a wheelchair came to the Emergency Department reporting melena for 2 days and 1 episode of coffee-grounds vomitus. Epigastric tenderness was present. An incidental finding of elevated liver enzymes along with the clinical picture prompted further survey. Computed tomography revealed a 14×10×12 cm homogeneous cystic lesion in the right hepatic lobe with a partially calcified wall. On sonograms, a similar lesion was found, and the pathognomic "water-lily" sign was visualized along with the isoechoic-to-hypoechoic internal septa, fulfilling the diagnosis despite the patient's refusal to undergo magnetic resonance imaging studies and invasive definite diagnostic procedures. Although anthelmintic chemotherapy and invasive therapeutic measures were also refused, her symptoms improved and was not recurrent under supportive measures. However, the cyst was still present 12 months after discharge. CONCLUSIONS The case highlights that in areas with few cases of hepatic hydatid disease, the accurate diagnosis could be missed in patients without a significant epidemiological history. However, once imaging findings, especially those that are pathognomic, are appropriately interpreted on at least 2 imaging modalities, such cases could be diagnosed without further definitive studies.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a worldwide helminthic zoonosis causing serious disease in humans. The WHO Informal Working Group on Echinococcosis recommends a stage-specific treatment approach of hepatic CE that facilitates the decision on what therapy option is most appropriate. Percutaneous aspiration, instillation of a scolicide, e.g., ethanol or hypertonic saline, and subsequent re-aspiration (PAIR) have been advocated for treating medium-size unilocular WHO-stage CE1 cysts. PAIR can pose a risk of toxic cholangitis because of spillage of ethanol in the case of a cysto-biliary fistula or of life-threatening hypernatriaemia when hypertonic saline is used. The purpose of our study is to develop an alternative, safe, minimally invasive method to treat CE1 cysts, avoiding the use of toxic topic scolicides.We opt for percutaneous drainage (PD) in four patients: the intrahepatic drainage catheter is placed under CT-fluoroscopy, intracystic fluid is aspirated, and the viability of intracystic echinococcal protoscolices is assessed microscopically. Oral praziquantel (PZQ) is added to albendazole (ABZ) instead of using topical scolicidals.Protoscolices degenerate within 5 to 10 days after PZQ co-medication at a cumulative dosage of 250 to 335 mg/kg, and the cysts collapse. The cysts degenerate, and no sign of spillage nor relapse is observed in the follow-up time of up to 24 months post-intervention.In conclusion, PD combined with oral PZQ under ABZ coverage is preferable to PAIR in patients with unilocular echinococcal cysts., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest., (Thieme. All rights reserved.)

Background: Liver hydatid cyst affects approximately 95% of the world's echinococcosis cases. Despite advances in treatment, the recurrence rate remains high and is influenced by several factors that are yet to be determined. The objective of this study was to identify the predictive factors of liver hydatid cyst recurrence following surgery in children and to establish a treatment regimen aimed at preventing this postoperative morbidity., Methods: A bi-centric retrospective descriptive and analytic study was conducted involving 122 children who underwent surgery for liver hydatid cysts between January 1st, 2009, and December 31st, 2017. All factors that could potentially contribute to recurrence were thoroughly investigated. The data was processed using SPSS.v21, and a significant level of p-value 0.05 was applied., Results: Out of the 122 children, 20 patients experienced cyst recurrence (16.39%). Among them, there were nine girls and eleven boys. The median time of recurrence was 16.5 months. Abdominal ultrasonography demonstrated efficacy in detecting recurrence. Several factors were identified as predictors of postoperative recurrence, including intimate contact of the hydatid cyst with the large vessels (p = 0.031), intraperitoneal effusion (p = 0.042), bile duct dilation (p = 0.032), and postoperative spontaneous discontinuation of medical treatment (p = 0.010). Among these factors, two independent risk factors for recurrence were identified: intimate contact of the hydatid cyst with the large vessels (p = 0.011) and the presence of an intraperitoneal effusion (p = 0.018)., Conclusion: Our study has identified several predictors of postoperative recurrence, including two previously undocumented risk factors in the literature. Awareness of these risk factors can assist surgeons in implementing preventive measures to avoid the recurrence of hydatid cysts., Level of Evidence: Prognosis study Level II., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Hydatidosis (Echinococcosis) is a disease caused by infestation of hydatid cysts in any organ of body but mainly liver (70% of cases). Hydatidosis of salivary glands is rare and necessitate computerized tomography for diagnosis while fine needle aspiration remains controversial procedure., Materials and Methods: 6 patients diagnosed with hydatid cysts of parotid glands. These cases were admitted and treated at the maxillofacial surgery Clinic of the "AL-Ramadi" Hospital in Iraq. 5 patients were female and 1 male with age group was between 30 -50 years. The patients complained of painless unilateral swelling in parotid region and who were diagnosed hydatid cysts using CT. All cases were treated by superficial parotidectomy with cystectomy and preservation of facial nerve., Results: All hydatid cysts are CE1- type with no recurrences were reported in any of these cases. The postoperative edema was the most common complication. Other complications were not seen., Conclusion: parotid hydatid cyst should be included in differential diagnosis of persistent parotid swelling especially those with history of hepatic hydatid cysts. Computerized tomography is the gold imaging that aid in diagnosis and classification of hydatid cysts. Most cases are CE1 type and Eosinophilia is a sign of concern in some patients. Surgical treatment remains the "gold standard" in therapy., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interests The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Background: The organ most commonly invaded in echinococcosis is the liver; the lungs, brain, kidneys, heart, and spleen are rarely invaded, and multi-organ involvement in echinococcosis is even rarer. No studies have reported renal invasion after liver transplantation for hepatic alveolar echinococcosis., Case Presentation: We report here a case of renal invasion 2 years after allogeneic liver transplantation in a 53-year-old female patient with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis combined with lung metastases. At the time of the first consultation, the lesion had been found to involve the second hepatic hilum combined with lung metastases, but the patient requested conservative treatment, and the lesion was not controlled by taking albendazole for 3 years. After discussion in the treatment group, it was decided to use allogeneic liver transplantation and lung segmental resection for surgical treatment, after which the patient was put on long-term oral immunosuppression. She was hospitalized 2 years later for low back pain and diagnosed with renal alveolar echinococcosis. Due to significant compression and left-sided renal insufficiency, the final option was to remove the diseased kidney. It is worth mentioning that signs of unexplained urinary tract infection were present throughout the course of treatment., Conclusion: This study suggests that extra attention should be paid to the presence of cryptogenic lesions in patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis who already have definite metastatic lesions. Immunosuppressive drugs after liver transplantation in patients with hepatic echinococcosis may cause occult lesions to develop into active ones. In clinical practice, particular attention should be paid to patients with hepatic alveolar echinococcosis with long-term concomitant signs of unexplained urinary tract infections, which may be a precursor clinical feature of cryptogenic renal alveolar echinococcosis., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Background: Endocystectomy is a conservative surgical approach to managing cystic echinococcosis. Bile leakage is the main complication of this technique. The aim of this study was to evaluate the factors associated with bile leakage and to assess the outcomes and cost efficiency of strategies used to treat bile leakage., Methodology/principal Findings: Patients who underwent endocystectomy between 2005 and 2020 were included. The preoperative characteristics, intra- and postoperative outcomes, hospital costs, and cost efficiency (the Diagnosis-Related Group reimbursement minus the overall cost) were evaluated prospectively. A total of eighty patients with 142 cysts were included. Postoperative complications occurred in 17 patients (21%), including 11 patients with bile leakage (type A: 1, type B: 6 and type C: 4 patients, total 13%). Bile leakage was more frequent in patients with preoperative MRI signs of cysto-biliary fistulas or intraoperative visible cysto-biliary fistulas (p = 0.03 and p = 0.04, respectively) and in patients with cysts larger than 8 cm (p = 0.03). Patients with bile leakage who underwent reoperation (type C) had significantly shorter hospital stays (9 vs. 16 days, p<0.01) and better cost efficiency than those who received radiologic or endocscopic interventions (€2,072 vs. -€2,097 p = 0.01). No mortality was observed, and recurrence was seen in two patients., Conclusions/significance: Endocystectomy is a safe and efficient technique. Preoperative and intraoperative cysto-biliary fistulas and a cyst diameter larger than 8 cm are correlated to postoperative bile leakage. Early operative management of bile leakage reduces hospital stay and improves cost efficiency compared with radiologic or endoscopic treatments., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist, (Copyright: © 2023 Abbasi Dezfouli et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Purpose of Review: This work aims to provide an update of knowledge on the evolution of inactive cystic echinococcosis (CE) cysts (CE4-CE5) managed by 'watch-and-wait', by means of a scoping review of the literature published after the publication of the WHO-IWGE (Informal Working Group on Echinococcosis) Expert Consensus document in 2010., Recent Findings: A total of 31 articles were included. Population ultrasound-based studies showed that spontaneously inactivated CE cysts represent 50.2% (95% confidence interval 38.7-61.8) of all detected untreated CE cysts, and that the prevalence of CE4-CE5 cysts tends to increase with age. Four longitudinal population-based studies showed that CE cysts naturally tend to evolve towards inactivation and that spontaneously inactivated cysts reactivate in a minority of cases. This was confirmed by four hospital-based studies, showing that spontaneously inactivated cysts reactivate rarely, while rate of reactivation is higher if inactivity was obtained posttreatment. It was not possible to drive conclusions on any difference in the clinical course of infection in immunocompromised or pregnant patients., Summary: CE cysts tend to evolve spontaneously to inactivation over time. The published literature supports the safety of the watch-and-wait approach for inactive cysts, sparing treatment to a substantial proportion of asymptomatic patients. A regular follow-up with ultrasound of all inactive cysts is required to detect reactivations., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Purpose of Review: The aim of our review is to summarize specific clinical, diagnostic and treatment aspects of pulmonary cystic echinococcosis. The lung is the organ second most affected by cystic echinococcosis with approximately a quarter of cystic echinococcosis cysts. Most cysts are in the liver. Apart from the watch and wait approach for selected inactive cysts [cystic echinococcosis CE4, CE5], the well established WHO cystic echinococcosis cyst classification-based treatment of hepatic cystic echinococcosis cannot be applied to pulmonary cystic echinococcosis cysts. Some standard interventions can even be harmful when applied to pulmonary cystic echinococcosis cysts., Recent Findings: Cystic echinococcosis is one of the neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). Development of new diagnostics and treatment modalities is hampered by low investment into research and is accordingly slow., Summary: Surgery is the mainstay of treatment for pulmonary cystic echinococcosis cysts. Parenchyma-sparing surgical techniques should be used whenever possible. Albendazole induces decay of the parasitic cyst membrane, opening of cystobronchial fistulas and cyst complications, which can be life threatening. It is strongly recommended to seek advice from expert centres, including differential diagnoses, treatment and a long-term management plan., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Objective: Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a parasitic liver disease with infiltrative growth similar to solid organ malignancies. Major vascular damage is frequent and often remains untreated until catastrophic events precipitate. Detailed clinical and radiological assessment is required to guide individualised treatment decisions. Standardised radiological reporting templates of malignancies with profiles resembling AE are candidates for adaptation. Our objectives are to describe vascular pathology in AE and establish a framework for structured evaluation as the basis for treatment decisions and monitoring., Design: Retrospective case series., Results: 69 patients (37.1%) had vascular involvement: portal vein (PV) 24.7%, hepatic vein (HV) 22.6% inferior vena cava (IVC) 13.4%. Significant stenosis/occlusion of vessels was present in 15.1% of PV, in 13.4% of HV and in 7.5% of IVC involvement. Vascular pathology needing specific treatment or monitoring was present in 8.6% of patients. The most frequent clinical presentation was high grade IVC stenosis or occlusion which was seen in 11 patients of the cohort., Conclusion: Advanced AE requires early multidisciplinary assessment to prevent progressive impairment of liver function due to vascular damage. The focus at first presentation is on complete evaluation of vascular (and biliary) involvement. The focus in non-resectable AE is on prevention of vascular (and biliary) complications while suppressing growth of AE lesions by benzimidazole treatment to improve the quality of life of patients. We developed a framework for standardised vascular assessment and follow-up of patients with AE to recognise and treat complications early., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE) and cystic echinococcosis (CE) are severe helminthic zoonoses and leading causes of parasitic liver damage. They pose a high mortality risk due to invisible clinical signs, especially at the early inactive stage. However, the specific metabolic profiles induced by inactive AE and CE lesions remain largely unclear. Therefore, we used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry-based metabolomic profiling to identify the global metabolic variations in AE and CE patient sera to differentiate between the two diseases and reveal the mechanisms underlying their pathogenesis. In addition, specific serum biomarkers of inactive hepatic AE and CE were screened using receiver operating curves, which can contribute to the clinical diagnosis of both diseases, especially in the earlier phase. These differential metabolites are involved in glycine, serine, tyrosine, and phenylalanine metabolism. Further analysis of key metabolic pathways showed that inactive AE lesions strongly alter amino acid metabolism in the host. CE lesions have an altered metabolism of oxidative stress response. These changes suggest these metabolite-associated pathways can serve as biomarkers to distinguish individuals with inactive AE and CE from healthy populations. This study also investigated the differences in serum metabolic profiles in patients with CE and AE. The biomarkers identified belonged to different metabolic pathways, including lipid, carnitine, androgen, and bile acid metabolism. Taken together, by investigating the different phenotypes of CE and AE with metabolomic profiling, serum biomarkers facilitating early diagnosis were identified., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that no competing financial interests or personal relationships influenced the study., (Copyright © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Hydatid cyst is an endemic zoonotic infection that annual incidence ranges from <1 to 200 per 100,000 individuals. The most common complication of hepatic hydatid cyst reported is rupture of the cysts, most commonly intrabiliary rupture. Direct rupture to hollow visceral organs is rarely seen. We describe here an unusual cystogastric fistula in a patient with liver hydatid cyst., Case Presentation: The 55-year-old male patient presented with right upper quadrant abdominal pain. After radiological imaging studies, the diagnose was of hydatid cyst involving the left lateral segment of the liver ruptured into the gastric lumen and resulted in a cystogastric fistula. Gastroscopy revealed that the cyst and its contents protruding from anterior wall to the gastric lumen. Partial pericystectomy and omentopexy were performed and the gastric wall was primarily repaired. There were no complications in the postoperative period and 3-month follow up., Conclusion: This case, to our knowledge, is the first reported case of cystogastric fistula surgically treated in a patient with liver hydatid cyst in the literature. Our clinical experience shows that, although it is a benign disease, complicated hydatid cysts should be evaluated in detail preoperatively, and after the detailed diagnostic work-up, surgical therapy might be planned individually for each case., Key Words: Cysto-gastric fistula, Hydatid Cyst, Liver hydatidosis.

Background: Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) results of an infection with the larval stage of Echinococcus multilocularis. It has been increasingly described in individuals with impaired immune responsiveness., Objectives: This narrative review aims at describing the presentation of AE according to the type of immune impairment, based on retrospective cohorts and case reports. Implications for patient management and future research are proposed accordingly., Sources: Targeted search was conducted in PubMed using ((alveolar echinococcosis) OR (multilocularis)) AND ((immunosuppressive) OR (immunodeficiency) OR (AIDS) OR (solid organ transplant) OR (autoimmunity) OR (immune deficiency)). Only publications in English were considered., Content: Seventeen publications were found, including 13 reports of 55 AE in immunocompromised patients (AE/IS) and 4 retrospective studies of 755 AE immunocompetent patients and 115 AE/IS (13%). The cohorts included 9 (1%) solid organ transplantation (SOT) recipients, 2 (0.2%) HIV patients, 41 (4.7%) with chronic inflammatory/autoimmune diseases (I/AID) and 72 (8.3%) with malignancies. SOT, I/AID and malignancies, but not HIV infection, were significantly associated with AE (odds ratios of 10.8, 1.6, 5.9, and 1.3, respectively). Compared to AE immunocompetent patients, AE/IS was associated with earlier diagnosis (PNM stages I-II: 49/85 (58%) vs. 137/348 (39%), p < 0.001), high rate of atypical imaging (24/50 (48%) vs. 106/375 (28%), p < 0.01), and low sensitivity of serology (19/77 (25%) vs. 265/329 (81%), p < 0.001). Unusually extensive or disseminated infections were described in SOT and I/AID patients., Implications: Patients who live in endemic areas should benefit from serology before onset of a long-term immunosuppressive therapy, even if the cost-benefit ratio has to be evaluated. Physicians should explain AE to immunocompromised patients and think about AE when finding a liver lesion. Further research should address gaps in knowledge of AE/IS. Especially, extensive and accurate records of AE cases have to be collected by multinational registries., (Copyright © 2022 European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is an endemic parasitic zoonosis in Germany. In most cases, the liver is the primary organ affected., Case Presentation: A 59-year old female patient presented with increasing exertional dyspnea and unintentional weight loss. A computed tomography (CT) scan showed a left-sided chylous pleural effusion and multiple intrahepatic masses with infiltration of the diaphragm and the pleura. The findings were initially misinterpreted as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with infiltrating growth. Liver biopsy of one of the masses showed no evidence of malignancy, but an amorphous necrosis of unclear origin. HCC was further ruled out by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, MRI findings were highly suspicious for hepatothoracic dissemination and complications due to AE. Typical histologic findings in a repeated and more specific examination of the liver tissue and a positive serology for echinococcosis confirmed the diagnosis of AE. As the hepatic and pulmonary manifestations were considered inoperable in a curative matter, an anti-parasitic treatment with albendazole was initiated. A video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) with removal of the chylous effusion as well as a talc pleurodesis was performed to relieve the patient from dyspnea. Two months later, the patient was asymptomatic and a positron emission tomography (PET)-CT-scan with [18 F] fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) showed a remarkable diminution of the hepatic manifestation., Conclusions: This case demonstrates a rare presentation of alveolar echinococcosis with a focus on pulmonary symptoms, emphasizing the importance of evaluation for pulmonary involvement in patients with AE and respiratory symptoms., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Alveolar echinococcosis is a rare but severe parasitic disease and is now in Europe the parasitic infection associated with the most morbidity and mortality. Its prevalence is increasing in Switzerland in both urban and rural areas. Echinococcosis is a differential diagnosis that should be considered when facing a cystic hepatic lesion. Moreover, this parasitic infection is increasing amongst immunocompromised patients, making the diagnosis more complex, because of atypic lesions and a more rapid evolution. At the current time, several treatment options, both surgical and medical, can offer patients a good prognosis and maintain a good quality of life., Competing Interests: Les auteurs n’ont déclaré aucun conflit d’intérêts en relation avec cet article.

Objective: To describe the clinical disease, diagnostic findings, medical management, and outcome in dogs with alveolar echinococcosis (AE)., Animals: 4 dogs with naturally occurring AE., Procedures: Medical records were retrospectively reviewed from 2020 to 2022 to identify dogs diagnosed with AE. Signalment, case history, clinical signs, imaging and pathological laboratory findings, treatment, and clinical outcome were reported., Results: All dogs developed systemic clinical illness and weight loss. Abdominal ultrasonography revealed multifocal to coalescent cystic masses of variable size distributed throughout the liver in all cases. Evaluation of aspirated hepatic cyst contents included membranous parasite structures and calcareous corpuscles. Echinococcus multilocularis was confirmed via PCR from hepatic cyst fluid in 3 of 4 cases. Treatment included systemic benzimidazole and praziquantel administration, 1 or more instances of ultrasound-guided cyst drainage in all cases, with ethanol ablation (percutaneous aspiration-injection-reaspiration) in 2 cases, and surgical resection in 1 case. Two of 4 dogs were euthanized within 5 months of diagnosis. One of these dogs was necropsied and had nearly complete obliteration of the hepatic parenchyma by multilocular cystic masses. One dog is still alive, and 1 dog has been lost to follow-up., Clinical Relevance: This series of cases highlighted the diagnostic findings and therapeutic intervention in 4 dogs with AE. This was the first report of medical management incorporating the percutaneous aspiration-injection-reaspiration method used in humans. Reports of canine AE are rare in the US, so this series serves to help raise awareness of hepatic AE in the northwestern US.

Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a severe parasitic infection caused by the ingestion of Echinococcus multilocularis eggs. While higher incidence and faster evolution have been reported in immunosuppressed patients, no studies have been performed specifically on AE in transplant patients. We searched for all de novo AE cases diagnosed between January 2008 and August 2018 in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients included in the Swiss Transplant Cohort Study and the FrancEchino Registry. Eight cases were identified (kidney = 5, lung = 2, heart = 1, liver = 0), half of which were asymptomatic at diagnosis. AE diagnosis was difficult due to the low sensitivity (60%) of the standard screening serology (Em2+) and the frequently atypical radiological presentations. Conversely, Echinococcus Western blot retained good diagnostic performances and was positive in all eight cases. Five patients underwent surgery, but complete resection could only be achieved in one case. Moreover, two patients died of peri-operative complications. Albendazole was initiated in seven patients and was well tolerated. Overall, AE regressed in one, stabilized in three, and progressed in one case, and had an overall mortality of 37.5% (3/8 patients). Our data suggest that AE has a higher mortality and a faster clinical course in SOT recipients; they also suggest that the parasitic disease might be due to the reactivation of latent microscopic liver lesions through immune suppression. Western blot serology should be preferred in this population. Finally, surgery should be considered with caution, because of its low success rate and high mortality, and conservative treatment with albendazole is well tolerated., (© B. Marquis et al., published by EDP Sciences, 2023.)

Objective: To analyze the technology for diagnostic modeling of liver echinococcosis., Material and Methods: In the Botkin Clinical Hospital, we developed a theory of diagnostic modeling of liver echinococcosis. Treatment outcomes were analyzed in 264 patients who underwent various surgical interventions., Results: A retrospective group enrolled 147 patients. When comparing the results of diagnostic and surgical stages, we identified 4 models of liver echinococcosis. The choice of surgical intervention in the prospective group was based on previous models. Diagnostic modeling reduced the number of general surgical and specific complications, as well as mortality in the prospective study group., Conclusion: The technology for diagnostic modeling of liver echinococcosis made it possible not only to identify 4 models of liver echinococcosis, but also determine the most optimal surgical intervention for each of model.

Rationale: Hepatic cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a common zoonotic parasitic disease caused by the entry of Echinococcus granulosus eggs into human body. Surgical resection is the optimal treatment choice for hepatic CE. However, Coexistence of CE and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) have been reported with a rare incidence rate, which led to unsatisfactory prognosis after the operation., Patient Concerns: A 69-year-old male patient was admitted to hospital because of "Upper abdominal pain and discomfort for more than 1 month and an aggravation for 10 days.", Diagnosis: An elderly male herder who was initially diagnosed as hepatic CE, and none of the preoperative imaging test revealed the existence of HCC. Co-existence of hepatic CE and HCC was confirmed by the postoperative pathological examination., Interventions: The patient underwent "combined hepatic segmental resection, portal vein thrombectomy, portal vein repairment, hepatic hydatid internal capsule removal and external subtotal resection, cholecystectomy"., Outcomes: During follow-up after discharge, the patient did not regularly review and get further treatment and died 8 months after operation., Lessons: May improve the clinicians' understanding of CE complicated with HCC, and reduce the misdiagnosis of similar case, as well as provide guidance for clinical treatment., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2022 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Hepatic cystic echinococcosis is a chronic parasitic disease caused by the infection with the larvae of Echinococcus granulosus in human or animal liver tissues. As a chronic active infectious disease, tuberculous empyema mainly invades the pleural space and then causes visceral and parietal pleura thickening. It is rare to present comorbidity for hepatic cystic echinococcosis and tuberculous empyema. This case report presents a case of hepatic cystic echinococcosis complicated with tuberculous empyema misdiagnosed as hepatic and pulmonary cystic echinococcosis, aiming to improve clinicians' ability to distinguish this disorder.

Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a parasitic disease with biological characteristics similar to malignant tumor. It has no obvious clinical symptoms in the early stage. Most patients have complications such as jaundice, ascites and gastrointestinal bleeding when they see a doctor. At this time, the course of disease is at an advanced stage. In addition, the incomplete resection of the AE lesion(s) leads to a high postoperative recurrence rate, which has a serious impact on the physical and mental health of patients. Based on the summary of the latest research at home and abroad and the analysis of blood supply, microvascular invasion and vascular growth factor expression in the "infiltrating zone" adjacent to the lesions of hepatic AE, this article has a deep understanding of the occurrence and development process of hepatic AE, aiming to better guide clinical practice and improve the quality of life of patients.

Echinococcus infections are rare in the United States but may present a growing public health threat. We present the case of an 8-year-old female patient from Southern California who was diagnosed with hepatic echinococcosis after the incidental discovery of large hepatic cysts., Competing Interests: The authors have no funding or conflicts of interest to disclose, (Copyright © 2022 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Alveolar echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease that mostly affects the liver, with vascular invasion and a protean clinical symptom. However, no reports of sympathetic nerve infiltration in hepatic alveolar echinococcosis have been reported. Here, we report a case of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis in a 33-year-old man. In this end-stage case, the lesion was heavily involved in the large vessels and biliary tract, and immunohistochemistry also incidentally revealed extensive nerve infiltration in the specimens after surgical treatment. Subsequently, neural classification was identified., Case Presentation: We herein report a case of advanced hepatic alveolar echinococcosis with macrovascular invasion and sympathetic nerve infiltration. In this case, inferior vena cava (IVC), the portal vein and bile duct were infiltrated. Ultimately, according to our experience, ex vivo liver resection and autotransplantation (ELRA) was the optimal treatment way to perform for this unresectable patient. Samples were collected from normal liver tissue, junction tissue and the lesion. Hematoxylin-eosin (HE) staining was used to confirm the diagnosis. Neural infiltration was observed by immunohistochemical staining with protein gene product 9.5 (PGP9.5). Fluorescence colocalization was determined with PGP9.5 and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH). These results suggest that a large amount of sympathetic nerve infiltration occurred at the junction., Conclusion: This study suggests that advanced hepatic alveolar echinococcosis shows infiltrating growth, often invades the large vessels and biliary ducts, and may be accompanied by sympathetic nerve infiltration., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Objective: We aimed to determine the effective factors in the selection of treatment methods for patients with hepatic hydatid cyst undergoing surgery and the variables effective when performing postoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). In addition, we aimed to reveal the factors affecting the recurrence, postoperative complications, and length of stay of these patients., Materials and Methods: A total of 107 patients diagnosed with hepatic hydatid cysts were treated surgically. Data were obtained from the records of these patients. Chi-square test was used for the analysis. The variables that were found to be significant in the chi-square analysis were included in the logistic regression (Backward: LR) analysis., Results: Of all patients, 6.5% underwent the puncture, aspiration, injection, and reaspiration (PAIR) technique, 67.3% underwent conservative surgery, and 26.2% underwent radical surgical treatment. In paired comparisons, a significant difference was found among the ultrasonographic size of the cyst ( p  = 0.033), the radiological classification of the cyst (0.006), and history of previous surgery and treatment methods for the cyst. The risk of performing ERCP was 25.710 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.721-284.013] folds higher for cysts located in the left lobe, whereas it was 19.992 (95% CI: 2.004-199.488) folds higher for cysts located in both right and left lobes. When the radical surgical treatment method was taken as a reference, the status of ERCP implementation was 29.785 (95% CI: 1.844-480.996) folds higher for PAIR and 3.628 (95% CI: 0.355-37.103) folds higher for conservative surgery., Conclusion: In conclusion, radical surgery is a significant treatment for hepatic hydatid cyst as its ultrasonographic cyst size increases with time. The location and treatment method of the cyst increases the complication of biliary fistula and requires ERCP.

Objectives: Cystic echinococcosis is a zoonotic disease caused by the cestode Echinococcus granulosus. The activity of the cysts is assessed through the WHO-IWGE standardized classification based on ultrasound features. However, viability of the cysts is not always concordant with the activity assessed by ultrasound. The aim of the present study is to describe the metabolic activity of cysts in patients with cystic echinococcosis through FDG-PET., Methods: Prospective observational study where adult patients diagnosed of cystic echinococcosis were offered to undergo FDG PET/CT before treatment onset. Demographic, clinical, radiological, and histopathological information was collected from all patients., Results: Sixteen patients were included, 50% were male, and age ranged from 18 to 85 years. Most of the patients had liver involvement, and all patients had CE3, CE4 or CE5 stage of the WHO-IWGE classification. Only one patient (CE5) had an increased 18 F-FDG uptake of the cyst in the FDG PET/CT. From the 5 patients who underwent surgical treatment, only one showed signs of viability of the cyst: a patient with CE5 with no increased 18 F-FDG uptake of the cyst., Conclusion: In our pilot study, we did not find the correlation between the FDG PET/CT imaging and the cystic echinococcosis cyst bioactivity., (Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Background: Anaphylaxis is a potentially life-threatening condition caused by a variety of triggers. However, anaphylaxis following an abdominal trauma is an exceptionally rare condition and could be the first and only sign of hepatic hydatid cyst, especially when no obvious etiology is present. Here, we present such a rare case and discuss relevant diagnostic and management strategy in light of the literature., Case Report: This case report refers to a 17 year-old previously healthy girl admitted in our pediatric emergency department (ED) for syncope after a minor blunt abdominal trauma. She was hypotensive on admission and shortly after she developed urticaria and angioedema. She was diagnosed with anaphylaxis and treated immediately. Possible etiologies including drug or food ingestion, insect bite, and previous allergy/anaphylaxis history were excluded. After stabilization abdominal imaging was performed, which revealed a ruptured large hepatic hydatid cyst in the vicinity of biliary tree. Albendazole treatment was started and surgical resection was performed after clinical stabilization, which confirmed the cyst rupture into the biliary ducts. Patient recovered without complications after surgery and was discharged uneventfully., Conclusion: This case report highlights that hydatid cyst rupture should be included in the differential diagnosis of anaphylaxis without obvious etiology, particularly in regions where hydatid disease is endemic. Ruptured hydatid cyst leading to anaphylaxis requires timely diagnosis, management and emergent intervention., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Background: Human cystic echinococcosis (CE), most commonly caused by echinococcosis granulosis, is the most common presentation of hydatid disease of the liver and is considered endemic in the Middle East region. Patients and Methods: This study is a retrospective single-center analysis of all patients with hepatic hydatid disease presenting for surgical management from 2001 to 2019. Results: From 2001 to 2019, 100 patients (54 males, 46 females) were diagnosed with hydatid disease of the liver with a mean age of 45 years (range, 19-82). The most common presenting symptom was right upper quadrant abdominal pain followed by incidental finding of cyst on imaging. Thirteen patients (13%) presented with signs and symptoms of obstructive jaundice. Of the 100 patients, 39 underwent laparoscopic surgery and 61 underwent open surgery. The most common complications were as follows: 16 bile leaks (16%), 14 intra-abdominal fluid collections (14%), 8 wound infections (8%), and 3 patients had biliary strictures (3%). Of the 100, 8 patients(8%) had recurrence of their hepatic hydatid disease. Conclusions: Hydatid disease of the liver is not a common disease, and its management can include medical, surgical, and interventional radiology. The decision depends on the size and complexity of the cyst and its location. Bile leak is a common complication and should be managed conservatively or through intervention by radiology or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

Objective: To study clinical manifestations and difficulties in diagnosis of liver echinococcosis in a non-endemic region and to assess the long-term results of surgical treatment and quality of life., Material and Methods: The study included 36 residents of a non-endemic region with liver echinococcosis operated on in the Perm Regional Clinical Hospital over the past 15 years. IgG antibodies to echinococcal antigens were determined using enzyme immunoassay. Topical diagnosis was performed using ultrasound and contrast-enhanced computed tomography. We analyzed various difficulties of preoperative diagnosis. Long-term postoperative outcomes and quality of life were studied using the SF-36 questionnaire., Results: In the non-endemic Perm Region, 36% of patients with liver echinococcosis had complicated forms of disease. Sensitivity of detection of antibodies was 77%, ultrasound - 86.1%, CT - 91.7. Echinococcectomy was performed in 13.9% of cases, pericystecomy - 41.7%, liver resection - 30.6%, minimally invasive interventions - in 13.9% of patients. Long-term recurrence of liver echinococcosis (11.1%) developed after laparoscopic echinococcectomy ( n =2) and open surgery for multiple liver echinococcosis ( n =2). Median score of physical health in long-term period was slightly higher than mental health (67.51 and 62.75 points, respectively). Physical activity had a weak negative correlation with age ( p =0.001, r = -0.251). Concomitant diseases significantly impaired vital activity ( p =0.001, r = -0.332), role and emotional functioning ( p =0.002, r = -0.494; p =0.003, r = -0.415)., Conclusion: In a non-endemic region, final diagnosis was established only during therapeutic measures in 8.33% of cases. Surgical treatment ensured favorable quality of life in long-term period.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) in children is a public health problem. To describe the clinical and epidemiological profile of CE, we reviewed the records of 55 children admitted to our institution with a confirmed diagnosis of CE between 2017-2019, analyzing demographic data, clinical manifestations, and treatment. Of the population, 61.8% (34/55) were male. The mean age was 9.25 years (SD: 2.79); 16.4% had previous CE diagnosis, and 50.9% had contact with dogs. The median time of illness was 2 months. Of the patients, 65.5% had hepatic involvement, 56.4% had pulmonary involvement, and 21.8% had both hepatic and pulmonary involvement. The most frequent symptoms were abdominal pain (80.6%) and cough (80.6%). Surgical treatment was performed in 87.5% of patients with hepatic CE, in 100% of those with pulmonary CE and in 100% of those with hepatic and pulmonary CE. Albendazole was prescribed in 100% of hepatic cases, in 73.7% of pulmonary cases, and in 75% of those with both conditions. Mortality was not reported.

Background: Cystic echinococcosis is a parasitic disease that develops in endemic areas due to the transmission of Echinococcus granulosus . The liver is the organ most affected. The most frequent symptoms include pain, palpable mass, jaundice, and fever. Diagnosis is based on epidemiologic history, examination, imaging, and serologic tests. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of patients with hepatic echinococcosis diagnosed in our center. We collected data from our patients regarding personal history, cyst characteristics, surgery performed, and post-operative complications. Results: Sixteen patients were diagnosed with hepatic echinococcosis, 11 of whom underwent surgery. We found multiple cysts in six patients (37.5%) and a single cyst in 10 (62.5%). In 14 patients the cysts were found only in the right hepatic lobe (87.5%) and in two patients they were found in both lobes (12.5%). Segment 4 was affected in seven cases. The sizes ranged from 2.7 to 20 cm. Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography was prior to surgery in five patients. The interventions performed were partial cyst-pericystectomies in eight patients, a total cyst-pericystectomy in one case, and drains were placed in two cases of rupture. Post-operative fistulas were evident in five patients, four of which were closed. The fifth, which occurred after emergency surgery for rupture of the cyst, has maintained suppuration. The mean follow-up was 3.5 years. There was no post-operative mortality or recurrence to date. Conclusions: We can state that center without highly specialized hepato-biliary surgery units can assume the surgery of hydatid liver cysts excluding those with well-defined characteristics. The establishment of recommendations for the referral of patients with complex hydatid cysts may help in the optimal management of this pathology.