[Cystic echinococcosis of the liver--problems of ultrasound diagnosis]

The authors examined 100 patients with a total of 119 cysts of the liver. The diagnosis was subsequently confirmed via scintigraphy, radiology and laparotomy. This paper reports on a sonographic analysis of cystic echinococcosis of the liver, its sonographically demonstrable types, structures and complications and their differential diagnosis. In 58% of the cases the classical aspect of cystic echinococcosis was seen (Type A). 22.7% of the cases pointed toward a sediment within the cyst (Type B). 8.4% of the cysts were septated (Type C), whereas 6.7% had daughter cysts (Type D). However, only 4.2% of the cysts were important for differential diagnosis, since they had to be set off against other space-occupying growths on account of their solid tumorous structure.