Cystic Echinococcosis of the Liver: A Primer for Hepatologists

Overview

Journal World J Hepatol

Publisher Baishideng Publishing Group

Specialty Gastroenterology

Date 2014 May 29

PMID 24868323

Citations 33

Authors

Francesca Rinaldi

Enrico Brunetti

Andreas Neumayr

Marcello Maestri

Samuel Goblirsch

Francesca Tamarozzi

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a complex, chronic and neglected disease with a worldwide distribution. The liver is the most frequent location of parasitic cysts. In humans, its clinical spectrum ranges from asymptomatic infection to severe, potentially fatal disease. Four approaches exist in the clinical management of CE: surgery, percutaneous techniques and drug treatment for active cysts, and the "watch and wait" approach for inactive cysts. Allocation of patients to these treatments should be based on cyst stage, size and location, available clinical expertise, and comorbidities. However, clinical decision algorithms, efficacy, relapse rates, and costs have never been properly evaluated. This paper reviews recent advances in classification and diagnosis and the currently available evidence for clinical decision-making in cystic echinococcosis of the liver.

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