Cystic echinococcosis in humans: our clinic experience
Tiseo, D.; Borrelli, F.; Gentile, I.; Benassai, G.; Quarto, G.; Borgia, G.
Parassitologia 46(1-2): 45-51
2004
ISSN/ISBN: 0048-2951 PMID: 15305685 Document Number: 570833
Four cases of human cystic echinococcosis admitted to the Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Naples, Italy are described. The first patient presented with abdominal pain. Several hydatid cysts were found in the liver. The second patient, a woman, underwent an operation to remove cysts in the lung. She had no prophylactic treatment. The same occurred in a man (fourth patient), in which lack of prophylaxis resulted to serious relapses. This patient presented with chest pain and myocardial anterior ischaemia. Surgical treatment removed 3 hepatic cysts of Echinococcus granulosus. Two-dimensional echocardiography, transoesophageal echocardiography, and cardiac magnetic resonance revealed a round cystic mass (6x6 mm) located in the middle interventricular septum. She was treated with albendazole. The third patient, a young woman, underwent an ultrasound examination due to abdominal pain. A large cyst in the spleen was found. Serological test for E. granulosus antibody was positive. Albendazole therapy relieved abdominal pain. Later, the patient was splenectomized.