Long-term results utilizing the unroofing technique in treating hydatid cysts of the liver

The aim of this study was to present the long-term follow-up results of liver hydatid cysts treated with unroofing, together with a review of the related literature data.

Of 700 liver hydatid cyst patients examined and treated at Selcuk University Meram Medical Faculty, General Surgery Department, between 1985 and 2007, 650 had accessible data and the unroofing method had been applied in 189 of them. The clinical and laboratory findings, stages, operations, and complications of patients treated with unroofing were reviewed. In particular, the resolution of residual cyst cavities over time after the application of this method was evaluated using computed tomography.

Four hundred and thirty-six (67.07%) of the cases were female [mean age: 35 (range: 10-73) years] and 214 (32.9%) were male [mean age: 46 (range: 12-76) years]. Of the 189 cases treated with unroofing and followed by tomography, the data of 144 were documented. Cavities were classified into five groups (A-E) according to their postoperative appearance.

Unroofing is an easy approach and it does not require extensive experience. This technique is recommended for peripherally localized cysts but may also be applied to those more deeply situated. Unroofing should be applied as deeply as possible and the residual cavity should also be as shallow as possible.