Purpose
To show the prevalence and imaging findings in US, TC and MRI of complicated hepatic hydatid cyst. Hydatid disease (HD) is a zoonosis produced by the larval stage of the Echinococcus tapeworm, most frequently by E.granulosus. Humans may become the intermediate host through contact with a definitive host (domesticated dog) or ingestion of contaminated water or vegetables. The larval stage of this parasite can implant in many organs of the body, most commonly the liver, and create internal cystic masses. Hydatid disease may develop in...
Methods and Materials
In this work, we discuss and illustrate a variety of radiologic and pathologic findings in 48 complicated HC from over 420 proved cases of hydatid disease seen at our institution over the past 5 years. We search by the electronic information system of the hospital (PACS) all the cases of HC and selected those whith complicated HC, proved by surgery and pathology. Most of the patients where diagnosed of hydatid cyst years before the complications, so we have previous studies to compare. The reliability of...
Results
Of the 420 studied cases of HC we found complications in 48 patients (11,42%), several of them presenting concomitant complications. In all of the cases the primary HC was hepatic. The spectrum of complications comprises: 1. INTRAHEPATIC COMPLICATIONS A. Cyst rupture: 40% Contained: occurs when the endocyst ruptures but the pericyst remains intact. The serpent sign is present: detached undulating membranes (colapsed endocyst) inside the HC without the reduction in the cyst size. Communicating: implies passage of the cyst contents into the biliary radicles that...
Conclusions
The hydatid disease may present many potential local complications and secondary involvement in almost any anatomic location due to hematogenous dissemination. Familiarity with imaging findings, especially in patients living in countries where this disease is endemic, like ours, provides important advantages in making the diagnosis.