Coinfection with hepatic cystic and alveolar echinococcosis with abdominal wall abscess and sinus tract formation:A case report

BACKGROUND Hepatic cystic and alveolar echinococcosis coinfections,particularly with concurrent abscesses and sinus tract formation,are extremely rare.This article presents a case of a patient diagnosed with this unique presentation,discussing the typical imaging manifestations of both echinococcosis types and detailing the diagnosis and surgical treatment experience thereof.CASE SUMMARY A 39-year-old Tibetan woman presented with concurrent hepatic cystic and alveolar echinococcosis,accompanied by abdominal wall abscesses and sinus tract formation.Initial conventional imaging examinations suggested only hepatic cystic echinococcosis,but intraoperative and postoperative pathological examination revealed the coinfection.Following radical resection of the lesions,the patient’s condition improved,and she was discharged soon thereafter.Subsequent outpatient follow-ups confirmed no recurrence of the hydatid lesion and normal surgical wound healing.Though mixed hepatic cystic and alveolar echinococcosis with abdominal wall abscesses and sinus tract formations are rare,the general treatment approach remains consistent with that of simpler infections of alveolar echinococcosis.CONCLUSION Lesions involving the abdominal wall and sinus tract formation,may require radical resection.Long-term prognosis includes albendazole and follow-up examinations.

Current status of drug therapy for alveolar echinococcosis

Alveolar echinococcosis(AE)is a chronic zoonotic parasitic disease caused by infection with Echinococcus multilocularis.AE is associated with a high mortality rate and poses a significant threat to human health.The primary treatment for AE is surgical resection of the lesions;however,owing to its long incubation period and insidious disease progression,many patients are diagnosed only after the onset of complications such as liver cirrhosis,jaundice,and portal hypertension,which preclude curative surgical intervention.For patients who are unwilling or unable to undergo surgery,lifelong administration of anti-AE medications is necessary.Benzimidazole compounds,such as albendazole and mebendazole,are the current mainstays of treatment,offering good efficacy.Nevertheless,these medications primarily inhibit parasite proliferation rather than eradicate the infection,and their long-term use can lead to significant drug-related toxic effects.Consequently,there is an urgent need to develop new therapeutic strategies that convey better efficacy and reduce the adverse effects associated with current treatments.Recent advancements in AE therapy include novel synthetic compounds such as antiviral agents,antibiotics,antineoplastic agents,immunosuppressants,and antiangiogenic agents,as well as natural compounds derived from traditional Chinese and Tibetan medicine.These new drugs show promising clinical potential because they interfere with parasitic metabolic pathways and cellular structures.This review aims to discuss recent research on AE drug therapy,including mechanisms of action,dosing regimens,signalling pathways,and therapeutic outcomes,with a goal of providing new insights and directions for the development of anti-AE drugs and summarizing current advancements in AE pharmacotherapy.

Historical changes in surgical strategy and complication management for hepatic cystic echinococcosis

Echinococcosis is a zoonotic parasitic disease caused by Escherichia larvae.It frequently involves the liver(70%-75%),followed by the lungs(15%-20%),and occasionally the brain,heart,spleen,bone,and other organs.The main pathogenic forms of human echinococcosis currently include cystic echinococcosis(CE)and alveolar echinococcosis(AE).CE is globally distributed,while the distribution of AE is generally restricted to the northern hemisphere.In China,CE accounts for 75%of all echinococcosis cases.With rapid advances in surgical techniques in recent decades,the surgical strategy for CE has changed,especially with the continuous improvement of surgical methods and the expansion of surgical contraindications.To further understand the changes in surgical treatment strategies for hepatic CE,we interpreted and analyzed the existing literature addressing the surgical treatment of hepatic CE both domestically and abroad and briefly summarized them in chronological order.This review aims to provide a deeper understanding of the progress in the surgical treatment of hepatic CE to provide clearer avenues for its clinical diagnosis and treatment.

儿童肝囊型包虫病诊治进展

肝包虫病是一种全世界广泛分布的由棘球蚴感染引起的人畜共患寄生虫病.儿童处于特殊的年龄阶段,不仅是棘球蚴病的重点防治人群,也是大规模防治中的重点监测对象.儿童肝囊性包虫病症状不典型,易误诊,治疗不规范易导致复发甚至死亡,因此本文从儿童肝囊型包虫病的诊断和治疗方式作一综述.

腹腔镜治疗儿童肝囊型包虫病的研究进展

肝囊型包虫病是一种流行于畜牧业区的人兽共患性寄生虫疾病,目前该疾病仍以手术治疗为主;相对于传统开腹手术,近年来随着微创手术及精准手术理念的发展,腹腔镜手术治疗肝囊型包虫病已在临床广泛应用;目前成人应用腹腔镜技术治疗肝囊型包虫病已得到临床肯定,但儿童肝囊型包虫病由于其腹腔空间小、囊壁薄、易破裂等因素目前临床尚未普及,故本文根据国内外相关文献归纳并着重阐述腹腔镜下治疗儿童肝囊型包虫病的不同手术方式在临床中的应用情况,为儿童肝囊型包虫病的微创手术治疗提供一定的参考.

Diagnosis and treatment of mixed infection of hepatic cystic and alveolar echinococcosis:Four case reports

BACKGROUND Mixed infection of hepatic cystic and alveolar echinococcosis is extremely rare.This article reveals the typical imaging manifestations of cystic and alveolar echinococcosis and investigates the diagnosis and surgical experience of mixed infection of hepatic cystic and alveolar echinococcosis.CASE SUMMARY From January 2017 to May 2019,4 cases with rare mixed infection of hepatic cystic and alveolar echinococcosis were admitted and treated by the Division of General Surgery of Qinghai Provincial People’s Hospital.Three of the patients occasionally had upper abdominal discomfort,but it did not affect their daily lives.However,hepatic echinococcosis was found in one patient by physical examination,and the patient had no discomfort.All 4 cases were Tibetans who had lived in pastoral areas of southern Qinghai for a long time.Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for echinococcosis was positive for all patients.Moreover,abdominal computed tomography showed typical imaging manifestations of cystic and alveolar echinococcosis including coexisting"honeycomb sign,"and"spotted calcification."Three of the patients underwent radical resection,and 1 case underwent palliative resection.All 4 patients developed different types of surgical complications after the operation,but all of them recovered and were discharged after symptomatic treatment.CONCLUSION There are no problems diagnosing mixed infection of hepatic cystic and alveolar echinococcosis.The difficulties involve preoperative evaluation and treatment of surgical complications.