Abstract
Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE) is a rare but severe zoonosis caused by the
pseudotumoral intrahepatic development of the larval stage of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis. HAE is present only in the Northern Hemisphere, predominantly in China. Currently,
there is a significant resurgence of cases in historically endemic areas associated
with emergence of HAE in countries not previously concerned. Today, in European countries,
HAE is often discovered by chance; however, clinicians should be made aware of opportunistic
infections that progressively emerged recently as a result of therapeutic or pathological
immunosuppression. Ultrasonography is the key first-line diagnostic procedure, with
specific serology providing confirmation in 95% of the cases. Albendazole, only parasitostatic,
is the mainstay for treatment. Surgical resection, if feasible, is the gold standard
for treatment, and more patients are currently eligible for this option because of
an earlier diagnosis. The prognosis has considerably improved but remains poor in
countries where access to care is less favorable.
Keywords
Echinococcus multilocularis
- alveolar echinococcosis - liver surgery - instrumental procedures - albendazole
