Diagnosis of Hepatic Hydatid Cysts by Contrast-Enhanced Ultrasound

Dear Editors,

We have read the recently published manuscript related to the study of Schwarze V. et al. focusing on the application of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) to assess hepatic lesions [1]. Six pregnant patients were safely evaluated based on CEUS images, which accurately diagnosed benign and malignant abnormalities including metastasis, focal hyperplasia, vascular changes, and cystic echinococcosis. The authors concluded that CEUS can be considered a safe diagnostic tool during pregnancy. Interestingly, this European study detected one woman presenting with unsuspected cystic echinococcosis that was immediately treated [1].

• References

• 1 Schwarze V, Marschner C, Negrão de Figueiredo G. et al. Single-center study: evaluating the diagnostic performance and safety of contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) in pregnant women to assess hepatic lesions. Ultraschall in Med 2019; DOI: 10.1055/a-0973-8517. . (Epub ahead of print)
• 2 Dos Santos VM, Andrade de Almeida AC, De Carvalho Santos S. et al. Unsuspected giant hydatid cyst of the liver in an 87-year-old woman. Infez Med 2011; 19: 185-188
• 3 Jain S, Khanduri S, Sagar UF. et al. Abdominal hydatidosis: unusual and usual locations in a North Indian population. Cureus 2019; 11: e4380
• 4 Moradi M, Rampisheh Z, Roozbehani M. et al. A retrospective study of hydatid cysts in patients undergoing liver and lung surgery in Tehran, Iran. Heliyon 2019; 5: e01897