[Long-term followup of patients with alveolar echinococcosis]

Alveolar Echinicoccosis is a severe parasitic disease: its natural evolution is comparable to a slowly progressive malignant liver tumour. There is no definitive medical therapy. Surgery remains the only option to assure a cure. This report is our surgical experience for the care of this affection.

Between 1980 and 2002, 12 patients were operated for an hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. For 11 of them, the affection was primary. Lesions were located in the right liver lobe (n = 9), in the left lobe (n = 1), in both lobes (n = 1) and close to the hilar region (n = 1). Twice there was a diaphragmatic infiltration and once a pleural infiltration. Resections consisted in: segmentectomies in the right lobe (n = 4), right hepatectomy (n = 5, associated once with a partial I and IV segmentectomy), left hepatectomy (n = 1), one liver transplantation (n = 1), one drainage of a parasitic cavity (n = 1). One pleurectomy and a partial diaphragmatic resection were made. All patients were treated postoperatively with benzimidazole chemotherapy.

Three patients presented some complications: segmental necrosis with biloma (n = 1), biliary fistula tract (n = 1), subdiaphragmatic hematoma (n = 1), cholangitis (n = 1). 10 patients are alive (median follow-up of 10 years). Two patients still present some parasitic lesions; the situation remains doubtful for one of them. Two patients died (one of them in the context of a disease progression).

Surgical treatment, associated with medical therapy, assured a control of the parasitic lesions or a definitive cure in most cases. When the disease is limited to the liver with no possibility for partial hepatectomy, a transplantation is an option.