Unilocular hepatic echinococcal cysts: Sonography and computed tomography findings

Maurice C Haddad; Ghina A Birjawi; Riad A Khouzami; Nabil J Khoury; Youssef R EL-ZEIN; Aghiad O AL-KUTOUBI

doi:10.1053/crad.2001.0768

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Unilocular hepatic echinococcal cysts: Sonography and computed tomography findings

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Unilocular hepatic echinococcal cysts: Sonography and computed tomography findings

Maurice C Haddad, Ghina A Birjawi, Riad A Khouzami, Nabil J Khoury, Youssef R EL-ZEIN and Aghiad O AL-KUTOUBI

Clinical radiology, Vol.56(9), pp.746-750

09/01/2001

DOI: 10.1053/crad.2001.0768

PMID: 11585396

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Abstract

AIM: In endemic regions, unilocular hepatic echinococcal cysts (HEC) may be difficult to differentiate radiologically from simple non-parasitic cysts, especially if serological tests were negative. The aim of this descriptive study is to elucidate distinctive imaging findings that allow a diagnosis of HEC. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sonographic and computed tomography (CT) findings of 21 patients with proven unilocular HEC were retrospectively analysed. A total of 28 examinations were reviewed, including 14 sonograms (ultrasound; US) of the liver and 14 CT studies. RESULTS: Seven imaging features that help in the diagnosis of unilocular HEC were identified by US and/or CT in 14 patients (14/21; 66.6%). They are, by order of frequency: hydatid sand (29.2%), focal or segmental thickening of the cyst wall (29.2%), coexistent echinococcal cysts in the spleen or lungs (16.6%), pericystic biliary radicles dilatation (8.3%), atrophy of the right lobe with compensatory hypertrophy of the left hepatic lobe (8.3%), satellite cysts typical of HEC in the liver (4.2%) and pericyst calcification (4.2%). CONCLUSION: These ancillary signs should prompt us to consider HEC as the cause of a unilocular cyst in approximately two-thirds of patients.

Infectious Diseases

Biological and medical sciences

Diseases caused by cestodes

Echinococcoses

Helminthic diseases

Medical sciences

Parasitic diseases

Details

Title: Subtitle: Unilocular hepatic echinococcal cysts: Sonography and computed tomography findings
Creators: Maurice C Haddad - American University of Beirut Medical Center
Ghina A Birjawi - American University of Beirut Medical Center
Riad A Khouzami - American University of Beirut Medical Center
Nabil J Khoury - American University of Beirut Medical Center
Youssef R EL-ZEIN - American University of Beirut Medical Center
Aghiad O AL-KUTOUBI - American University of Beirut Medical Center
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Clinical radiology, Vol.56(9), pp.746-750
Publisher: Elsevier
DOI: 10.1053/crad.2001.0768
PMID: 11585396
ISSN: 0009-9260
eISSN: 1365-229X
Language: English
Date published: 09/01/2001
Academic Unit: Radiology
Record Identifier: 9984697639902771

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