Abstract
Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a rare life-threatening parasitic infection. Computed tomography perfusion (CTP) imaging has the potential to provide both quantitative and qualitative information about the tissue perfusion characteristics. The purpose of this study was the examination of the characteristic features and feasibility of CTP in AE liver lesions. CTP scanning was performed in 25 patients who had a total of 35 lesions identified as AE of the liver. Blood flow (BF), blood volume (BV), portal venous perfusion (PVP), arterial liver perfusion (ALP), and hepatic perfusion indexes (HPI) were computed for background liver parenchyma and each AE lesion. Significant differences were detected between perfusion values of the AE lesions and background liver tissue. The BV, BF, ALP, and PVP values for all components of the AE liver lesions were significantly lower than the normal liver parenchyma (p<0.01). We suggest that perfusion imaging can be used in AE of the liver. Thus, the quantitative knowledge of perfusion parameters are obtained via CT perfusion imaging.
Highlights
Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a rare parasitic infection that can be life threatening [1, 2]
We studied 35 AE lesions in 25 patients, which were proven by biopsy
AE lesions of the liver are characterized by a multi-vesicular structure surrounded by a large, solid fibro-inflammatory tissue [3, 4]
Summary
Alveolar echinococcosis (AE) is a rare parasitic infection that can be life threatening [1, 2]. The metacestode of Echinococcus multilocularis (EM) causes infection in humans. Their growth is slow and progressive similar to some liver tumors [3, 4]. In non-resectable cases, liver transplantation is the last resort. This disease may lead to liver failure and even death if left untreated [3, 4]. Our study suggests that CTP is a feasible method for quantitatively assessing AE lesions of the liver. The current study showed lower BF, BV, ALP, and PLP values in AE lesions compared with background liver. CTP enables the quantitative evaluation of liver AE lesions and can facilitate a differential diagnosis between malignant liver lesions and AE by adding only a few seconds to a routine CT.
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