[Obstructive jaundice caused by spontaneous rupture of an Echinococcus granulosus cyst into the bile duct system]

Obstructive jaundice caused by a parasitosis is very rare. It can be a complication of a cystic echinococcosis. We present the case of a 33-year-old man who suffered from cystic echinococcosis with an affection of the liver for several years. As a complication an echinococcal cyst had ruptured into the biliary tract and had led to an occlusion of the ductus hepatocholedochus. By means of ERCP the membrane of the echinococcal liver cyst was extracted in toto. Cholangioscopy followed and showed a free biliary tract without remaining cyst fragments. After these interventions the blood parameters normalized and the patient recovered. An additive chemotherapy with albendazole was started.