Liver cystic echinococcosis in humans - a study of 30 cases

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the clinical manifestations and diagnostic approach to liver hydatid disease and suggest its treatment. The prospective study was carried out on 30 patients with liver hydatidosis. Hepatologic examinations were based on: medical history, physical examination, biochemical and serological tests, ultrasonography and computed tomography scanning. Twenty-five (83.3 %) patients underwent radical cyst resection, while in 5 (16.7 %) cases liver resection with left lobectomy was also performed. Hydatid cyst was histopathologically verified in all the patients. Our results showed that the patients with multiple cysts had impaired functional liver tests significantly more often than patients with unilocular cyst. In addition, ultrasonography and computed tomography scans are the valid imaging procedures in diagnosis. Radical, surgical resection of hepatic hydatid cysts is the goal of treatment.