Advanced alveolar echinococcosis disease associated with Budd-Chiari syndrome

Alveolar echinococceal disease of the liver is rare. Echinococcus multilocularis is responsible for the development of the related clinical conditions. Advanced disease may result with serious complications such as end stage liver disease and Budd-Chiari syndrome.

In this presentation, a 28 years-old woman who was a case with advanced alveolar echinococcosis complicated with a Budd-Chiari syndrome and was performed successful living donor liver transplantation, has been demonstrated with clinical and radiological images.

Initially there may be no clinical evidence of the disease in humans for years. Severity and fatality are the significant characteristics of the natural history. Extension to the surrounding tissues and metastasis of the parasitic mass may be observed. Prevention is essential in disease control. Serologic assay may identify the parasite. However, early diagnosis is rare. Staging is based on radiologic imaging. Some patients with advanced disease may require surgery. Hepatic resection and liver transplantation are accepted procedures in selected patients.

The importance of early diagnosis to prevent advanced complications such as development of Budd-Chiari syndrome and metastasis has been underlined.