ObjectiveTo summarize the clinical features of an adult patient with occult cerebral alveolar echinococcosis with liver and lung infection. MethodsA Tibetan male patient in his middle age from the epidemic area of echinococcosis infection was diagnosed to have liver, lung and cerebral alveolar echinococcosis infection in Ganzi People's Hospital. He had the resection surgery, and the pathological result confirmed the primary diagnosis. We searched the literatures from January 1985 to December 2015 for occult cerebral alveolar echinococcosis and reviewed all the full texts in China Journal Full-text Database. Seventeen articles were qualified and 42 patients were reported. Combining with the relevant English literature using Medline, we analyzed the epidemic, pathophysiological and clinical manifestations of cerebral alveolar echinococcosis infection and explored the methods of prevention and treatment. ResultsAccording to the results of literature analysis, cerebral alveolar echinococcosis appeared often secondary to infection of other organs. Nervous system symptom concealed or progressed slowly; imaging and pathological tests were important for diagnosis. Resection surgery was the essential method of cure. ConclusionAlveolar echinococcosis can affect multiple organs. In patients without neurological symptoms, if other organs are found to be infected, it is important to screen patients with intracranial involvement. Because this kind of patients with intracranial lesions with hydatid are often secondary to other organ infection, active treatment in early phase is necessary in order to avoid further expansion of lesions and metastasis.
ObjectiveTo assess the value of multi-slice spiral CT (MSCT) in the diagnosis and resectability judgement of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE). MethodsThe CT findings of 28 patients who were confirmed HAE by surgical pathological examination were retrospectively analyzed. Comparative analysis were made between the CT findings and surgical pathology. ResultsAltogether 45 lesions in hepatic were detected. Lesions mainly revealed an infiltrating tumor-like hepatic mass with irregular margins and heterogeneous contents with varied attenuation, including scattered hyper-attenuating calcifications and hypo-attenuating areas corresponding to necrosis, no substantial enhancement, however, the fibro-inflammatory component surrounding the parasitic tissue was enhanced faintly in the delayed phase, and clearly demarcated from surrounding parenchyma. MSCT angiography (CTA) depicted signs of infiltration of hepatic vessels such as pushed, compression, displacement, stenosis, encasement and interruption. Compared with findings of operation, the sensitivity and specificity value of MSCT for evaluating the hepatic artery system disorders were 67%, 97%; and for portal venous system were 83%, 93%; and for hepatic venous system were 84%, 91%; while for inferior vena cava were 85%, 100%. Twelve cases which were evaluated as resectable by MSCT were in accordance with surgical findings. In the rest 16 patients which were judged as non-resectable by MSCT, only 2 patients were radical treatment through partial excision, repair and reconstruction for the involvement of large vessels and bile ducts. ConclusionMSCT is accuracy in the diagnosis and assessment of vessels complication of HAE. It has an important value to evaluate the resectability of HAE and the planning of treatment.