Multivisceral echinococcosis: concept, diagnosis, management

Hydatid disease is in a come-back period. In Romania the incidence is cited at 5-6 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.

In this study we define the concept of multivisceral echinococcosis, which is a more serious form of the hydatid disease with implications of diagnosis, treatment,morbidity and mortality. Multivisceral echinococcosis must be differentiated from multiple echinococcosis. The latter is defined as the localization of multiple hydatid cysts in the same organ. In case of multiple echinococcosis, we can describe double echinococcosis (two hydatid cysts located in the same organ), triple, etc. The etiology of multivisceral echinococcosis is similar to mono-visceral echinococcosis.Regarding the pathogenic mechanism, we appreciate that there are two distinct mechanisms: primary infection (most of them) and secondary infection.

We propose a classification of multivisceral echinococcosis based on the anatomical compartment involved.The diagnosis of this condition is easy to establish using classicor more recent investigations (CT, MRI). Compared to monovisceral echinococcosis, the symptomatology is louder because of the involvement of several organs and its association with different other conditions.

We wish this study to bring more information about hydatid disease, but especially about multivisceral echinococcosis.