Hepatic Cystic Echinococcosis Research Articles

Laparoscopic Treatment Strategies for Liver Echinococcosis.

Liver echinococcosis is clinically mainly composed of hepatic cystic echinococcosis (CE) and hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (AE). At present, laparoscopy has been comprehensively applied in the treatment of two types of liver echinococcosis. For hepatic CE treatment, both laparoscopic total pericystectomy and laparoscopic hepatectomy can achieve radical results, but the former is considered the first choice owing to its being more minimally invasive; laparoscopic subtotal pericystectomy and laparoscopic partial pericystectomy can be accepted as complementary options, considering the presence of complicated cysts and the level of laparoscopic technique in remote hospitals; laparoscopic cystectomy is simple, but it is not currently recommended for treatment of hepatic CE owing to poor efficacy and high risk of postoperative complications. For hepatic AE treatment, laparoscopy not only achieves the same radical effect as open surgery in selected patients, but also is more minimally invasive, so it has a better prospect.

Conservative Management of Liver Echinococcal Cysts in Pregnant Women: One Center's Experience in Pavia, Italy.

Human cystic echinococcosis (CE) in pregnancy is rarely reported, with approximately one case of CE for every 20,000 to 30,000 pregnant women in endemic areas. Little information on its management is available. We report our experience with a watch-and-wait approach in this group of patients. We retrieved clinical data from pregnant patients with hepatic CE seen at our clinic from 1989 to 2021. All patients had at least one hepatic CE cyst and received no treatment during pregnancy. Ultrasound was used to monitor cyst evolution; outcome and complications of pregnancy and echinococcal infection were evaluated. Twelve patients with 15 pregnancies were included in this study. At the time of pregnancy, nine patients had a single cyst and two patients had multiple hepatic CE cysts. Cysts were in stage CE3a, CE3b, CE4, and CE5, according to the WHO Informal Working Group on Echinococcosis classification. All cysts except one remained stable in stage and size during and after pregnancy. In one patient with a history of multiple treatments with albendazole and with a CE4 cyst at the start of pregnancy, reactivation of the cyst during pregnancy was observed. All pregnancies except three had eutocic delivery. Cesarean sections were performed for reasons unrelated to CE. In our experience, "watch and wait" in pregnant women with uncomplicated transitional and inactive CE of the liver was a safe option in a small cohort of patients. Pooled data from other referral centers, including cases with CE1 and CE2 cysts, are needed to confirm the safety of this approach.

A Retrospective Evaluation of Spleen Hydatid Cyst Treatments: The Spleen-Preserving Conservative Approach is Preferable to Splenectomy.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is rarely encountered in the spleen, even in areas where the disease is endemic. There is no consensus in the literature concerning the treatment of splenic cystic echinococcosis. This study was intended to compare the treatment results and factors affecting the selection of the spleen- preserving approach or splenectomy in treatment. Four hundred and seventy patients operated for cystic echinococcosis at a university clinic between January 2010 and December 2019 were retrospectively evaluated. Splenic cystic echinococ- cosis was identified in 22 patients (4.7%). Demographic features as well as clinical and laboratory findings of patients who underwent splenectomy or spleen-preserving operations were compared between the groups. Spleen-preserving cystotomy was performed on 18 patients (81.8%), and splenectomy on 4 (18.2%). Eleven patients (50%) had isolated cystic echinococcosis in the spleen, while another 11 (50%) had hepatic and splenic cystic echinococcosis. The median cyst size was 10.0 cm (min: 3, max: 20). Splenectomy patients had significantly larger cyst sizes (median, min-max; 8.0 cm, 3-15 cm vs. 15.0 cm, 10-20) (Z=2.071, P=.042). Postoperatively, 1 patient from the splenectomy group (25.0%) developed deep vein thrombosis, and another from the cystotomy group (5.5%) developed pulmonary embolism. No other serious complications, re-operation requirements, or recurrence were observed after a median follow-up period of 27.0 months (min: 5, max: 92). Since no collections or recurrence were observed, and splenic functions were preserved in patients who underwent spleen-preserving cystotomy, we recommend the use of spleen-protective cys- totomy. Splenectomy should be employed in patients with cyst diameters exceeding 10 cm, with a central location, and in cases with difficult cavity management and a high risk of developing postoperative collections.

Turkish HPB Surgery Association consensus report on hepatic cystic Echinococcosis (HCE).

Cystic Echinococcosis (CE) is one of the important problems of the Eurasian region. We aimed to prepare a consensus report in order to update the treatment approaches of this disease. This study was conducted by Turkish HPB Surgery Association. This study was conducted with the modified Delphi model. For this purpose, we conducted a three-stage consensus-building approach. Six topics, including diagnosis, medical treatment, percutaneous treatment, surgical treatment, management of complications and posttreatment follow-up and recurrences in HCE were discussed. The expert panel made recommendations for every topic.

Robot-assisted pericystectomy using Da Vinci Xi surgical system with indocyanine green fluorescence imaging for hepatic cystic echinococcosis

The clinical efficacy of robot-assisted laparoscopic pericystectomy using the Da Vinci Xi surgical system plus indocyanine green（ICG） fluorescence imaging and the conventional laparotomy for en bloc pericystectomy was compared. The clinical data of 7 patients treated by robot-assisted laparoscopic pericystectomy using the Da Vinci Xi surgical system plus ICG fluorescence imaging at our hospital between October 2019 and July 2021 and 15 patients treated by conventional laparotomy for en bloc pericystectomy were retrospectively analyzed. Compared with the conventional laparotomy group, the intraoperative blood loss was reduced using the Da Vinci surgical system [(225.43±44.75)ml: (521.33±246.34) ml, P=0.015]. The indwelling time of the urinary catheter was also shorter [2.86±0.75)d: (3.87±0.81)d, P=0.012]. However, the total expense was increased significantly [(49.9±3.7) thousand RMB: (28.7±5.0) thousand RMB, P<0.001]. The two groups of patients were not significantly different in operation time, time to flatulence after surgery, time to eat a liquid diet after surgery, length of hospital stay after surgery, time to drainage tube removal, and the incidence of postoperative complications (P=0.899). Both two groups were followed up for 3-12 months after surgery. The patients were generally good without recurrence or intra-abdominal implantation. The Da Vinci Xi surgical system could be feasibly and safely applied to the robot-assisted laparoscopic pericystectomy plus ICG fluorescence imaging for Hepatic cystic echinococcosis(HCE). This procedure could effectively remove the hepatic hydatid cysts under the ICG fluorescence imaging with a higher resection rate, causing less trauma and fewer complications.

Progress in laparoscopic treatment of hepatic cystic echinococcosis in children

Progress in laparoscopic treatment of hepatic cystic echinococcosis in children

Progress in diagnosis and treatment of hepatic cystic echinococcosis in children

Progress in diagnosis and treatment of hepatic cystic echinococcosis in children

A Case of Primary Liver Cancer and Hepatic Cystic Echinococcosis

A Case of Primary Liver Cancer and Hepatic Cystic Echinococcosis

Medical Treatment with Albendazole of A Patient with Hepatic Cystic Echinococcosis who Should have Undergone Elective Surgery in the Context of Pandemic of COVID-19

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is worldwide endemic parasitic zoonosis caused by tapeworm Echinococcus granulosus. In human, liver is most common organ affected up to 85%. Informal Working Group on Echinococcosis (IWGE) of World Health Organization (WHO) published a standard classification of the cysts based on ultrasound (1) and a consensus in 2010 suggesting treating with albendazol as first choice of treatment in uncomplicated CE1 and CE3a up to 5 cm (2). In the context of pandemic of COVID-19, patients who requires elective percutaneous or surgical treatment for symptomatic non-complicated hepatic CE must be delayed or suspended because this disease is not life threatening unless it's complicated and by the shortness of bed and the risk of intra-hospital COVID-19 infection. The aim of this case report is to describe the follow up of a patient with hepatic cystic echinococcosis who should have undergone elective precutaneous or surgical treatment, treated with albendazole in the context of a pandemic COVID-19.

A case of hepatic hydatid disease and imaging findings

A 45-year-old female patient was admitted to our hospital due to a space-occupying lesion which was found in a physical examination. Slight tenderness was found in her right lower abdomen for 1 month. On computed tomography (CT) imaging, a round, low-density lesion was observed in the liver. Several round cysts with lower density and thin wall were scattered in the center of the lesion. Linear calcification could be found in partial cystic wall. No significant enhancement was found in the lesion on contrast-enhanced CT imaging. A laparotomy was performed to remove the mass, which was sent to a pathological examination and hepatic cystic echinococcosis was diagnosed.

Intraoperative Drains and Surgical Management of Biliary Complications After Endocystectomy for Hepatic Cystic Echinococcosis are Beneficial

Introduction: Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a parasitic disease caused by Echinococcus granuloses. The ideal surgery method is a matter of debate. However, new studies have shown many advantages of endocytectomy. The main complication of endocytectomy is bile leak. we evaluated two different bile leak management strategies, surgical revision versus interventional therapy, comparing their outcomes, and cost/effectivity.

Portal Hypertension as a Complication of Cystic Echinococcosis: A 20-Year Cohort Analysis.

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) is a parasitic disease caused by the larval forms of species of the tapeworm Echinococcus. The most common location is the liver. To assess the frequency and clinical characteristics of portal hypertension (PH) and the risk factors for PH development, we performed a retrospective observational study of inpatients diagnosed with hepatic CE and PH from January 1998 to December 2018, at Complejo Asistencial Universitario de Salamanca, Spain. Of 362 patients analyzed with hepatic CE, 15 inpatients (4.1%) had a portal vein diameter ≥ 14 mm, and the mean diameter of the portal vein was 16.9 (standard deviation [SD] ±2.1) mm. Twelve patients were men. The mean age was 59.5 years (SD ± 17.8 years). Four patients had ascites (26.6%), four had collateral circulation (26.6%), 14 had hepatosplenomegaly (93.3%), five had esophageal varices (33.3%), four had hematemesis, and three had jaundice. Other causes of PH included hepatitis B virus (1 patient) and hepatitis C virus (1 patient) infections and alcohol abuse (1 patient). The host variables associated with PH development were male sex (odds ratio, 4.6; 95% confidence interval, 1.1-20.9; P = 0.030) and larger cyst size (10.8 ± 6.3 versus 7.6 ± 4.1; P = 0.004). Hepatic CE is an infrequent cause of PH that usually occurs without indications of liver failure. Larger cyst size and male sex were the main risk factors associated with this complication. Mortality was higher for patients with hepatic CE with PH than for patients with hepatic CE without PH.

Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Reveals the Heterogeneity of Infiltrating Immune Cell Profiles in the Hepatic Cystic Echinococcosis Microenvironment.

Human cystic echinococcosis, caused by the larval stage of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, has been reported a near-cosmopolitan zoonotic disease. Various infiltrating immune cells gather around the lesion and produce a lesion microenvironment; however, cellular composition and heterogeneity in hepatic cystic echinococcosis lesion microenvironments are incompletely understood. Here, 81,865 immune cells isolated from peripheral blood, perilesion liver tissue, and adjacent normal liver tissue from four cystic echinococcosis patients were profiled using single-cell RNA sequencing. We identified 23 discrete cell populations and found distinct differences in infiltrating immune cells between tissue environments. Despite the significant similarity between perilesion and adjacent normal liver tissue-resident immune cells, the cellular proportions of type 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2s) and plasmacytoid dendritic cells (pDCs) were higher in perilesion liver tissue. Interestingly, the immunosuppressive gene NFKBIA was upregulated in these cells. Seven subsets of CD4+ T cell populations were found, and there were more regulatory-CD4+ T cells (Treg-CD4+) and Th2-CD4+ T cells in perilesion tissue than in adjacent normal tissue. There was close contact between CD4+ T cells and ILC2s and pDCs, which caused upregulation of genes related to positive immune activity in adjacent normal liver tissue. However, expression of genes related to immunosuppression, especially the immune inhibitory checkpoint gene NKG2A/HLA-E, was obviously higher in perilesion tissue, suggesting that cellular interaction resulted in an inhibitory microenvironment in the cystic echinococcosis (CE) lesion. This work offers new insights into the transcriptional heterogeneity of infiltrating immune cells in hepatic cystic echinococcosis lesion microenvironments at a single-cell level and provides potential target signatures for diagnosis and immunotherapies.

Identification of infiltrating immune cell subsets and heterogeneous macrophages in the lesion microenvironment of hepatic cystic echinococcosis patients with different cyst viability

Human cystic echinococcosis (CE) is characterized by lesion microenvironment formation through gathering various immune cells, including macrophages. However, immune cell subsets and heterogeneous macrophages in CE lesion microenvironment are poorly defined. Massive infiltrating immune cells formed lesion microenvironment, among which CD4+T cells and CD19+B cells were predominant and CD68+ macrophages were more evident in patients with active cysts. Different degrees of liver fibrosis was observed in Peri-Lesion (PL) liver samples, which was more evident in patients with active cysts. Expression of both M1 and M2 macrophage markers was significantly increased in PL liver samples. Importantly, elevation of M1 macrophage markers was more obvious in patients with inactive cysts, whereas M2 macrophage markers represented dominant macrophage phenotype in patients with active cysts. Additionally, macrophage-derived MIF, TGF-β1 and ECM1 were also expressed at higher level in CE lesion microenvironment of patients with active cysts. Moreover, MIF was evidently enhanced in the serum of hepatic CE patients, which was also predominant in patients with active cysts. Correlation analysis demonstrated positive correlation between expression of macrophage-derived cytokines and liver fibrosis degree. Heterogeneous macrophages may play significant roles in liver fibrosis of CE lesion microenvironment through producing pro-fibrogenic cytokines.

Effectiveness of a Clinical Pathway for Hepatic Cystic Echinococcosis Surgery in Kashi Prefecture, Northwestern China: A Propensity Score Matching Analysis.

IntroductionSurgical treatment for hepatic cystic ehinococcosis (CE) is not standardized in Kashi Prefecture. Previous evidence identified effectiveness of a clinical pathway in the field of liver surgery. However, proof of a clinical pathway program, especially for CE patients, is lacking. This study aimed to assess the validity of a clinical pathway for hepatic CE surgery performed on patients from Kashi Prefecture.MethodsA clinical pathway was developed and implemented by a multidisciplinary team for patients undergoing hepatic CE surgery. Two groups were formed from patients undergoing hepatic CE surgery during a defined period before and after implementing a clinical pathway. Additionally, a propensity score matching analysis was performed.ResultsIn the overall analysis (n = 258) as well as the matched analysis (n = 166), after implementing the clinical pathway, hospital stay was significantly reduced from 13 to 10 days and from 14 to 10 days, respectively (P < 0.05). Postoperative morbidity did not increase. Cost analysis showed a significant decrease in median costs of medication and nursing in favor of the clinical pathway (medication: 5400 CNY vs. 6400 CNY, P = 0.038; nursing: 3200 CNY vs. 4100 CNY, P = 0.02).ConclusionImplementing the clinical pathway for hepatic CE surgery is feasible and safe. The clinical pathway achieved significant reduction of hospital stay without compromising postoperative morbidity. Costs of medication and nursing are significantly reduced. The clinical pathway program is valid and propagable to a certain extent, especially in remote, poor-resourced medical centers in endemic areas.

Prognostic value of plasma IL-27 on biological viability of hepatic cystic echinococcosis

ObjectivesTo investigate potential biomarkers for distinguishing biological viability of hepatic cystic echinococcosis. MethodsUsing Luminex assay we measured plasma concentrations of cytokine and chemokine in patients with active and non-active cysts (hepatic cystic echinococcosis (HCE), n = 47) and stable/progressive hepatic alveolar echinococcosis (HAE, n = 38), and in comparable infection-free volunteers (n = 48). Disease progression was staged according to the classification standard. ResultsCompared with healthy controls, enhanced elevation was found of T helper 22 type cytokine interleukin (IL)-22 and chemokines Eotaxin, interferon-γ inducible protein-10, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, and stromal cell-derived factor-1α concentrations in HAE patients, and IL-22, growth-related oncogene α, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, regulated on activation normal T-expressed and secreted, and stromal cell-derived factor-1α concentrations in HCE patients (P < 0.05–0.001). For HCE patients, only IL-27 concentrations in non-active HCE were significantly lower than in active HCE. In logistic regression analysis, IL-27 <20.79 pg/mL was an independent risk factor for HCE biological viability with receiver operating characteristic analysis at a 44.23 pg/mL cut-off resulting in 0.72 area under the curve. ConclusionsOur findings correlate multiple cytokine and chemokine secretion patterns in HAE and HCE patients with different disease progression stages. IL-27 could serve as a referring biomarker for distinguishing HCE biological viability and provide a preliminary foundation for clinical decision-making.

Endocystectomy as a conservative surgical treatment for hepatic cystic echinococcosis: A systematic review with single-arm meta-analysis.

BackgroundIn patients with hepatic cystic echinococcosis (CE), treatment effectiveness, outcomes, complications, and recurrence rate are controversial. Endocystectomy is a conservative surgical approach that adequately removes cyst contents without loss of parenchyma. This conservative procedure has been modified in several ways to prevent complications and to improve surgical outcomes. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the intraoperative and postoperative complications of endocysectomy for hepatic CE as well as the hepatic CE recurrence rate following endocystectomy.MethodsA systematic search was made for all studies reporting endocystectomy to manage hepatic CE in PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases. Study quality was assessed using the methodological index for non-randomized studies (MINORS) criteria and the Cochrane revised tool to assess risk of bias in randomized trials (RoB2). The random-effects model was used for meta-analysis and the arscine-transformed proportions were used to determine complication-, mortality-, and recurrence rates. This study is registered with PROSPERO (number CRD42020181732).ResultsOf 3,930 retrieved articles, 54 studies reporting on 4,058 patients were included. Among studies reporting preoperative anthelmintic treatment (31 studies), albendazole was administered in all of them. Complications were reported in 19.4% (95% CI: 15.9–23.2; I2 = 84%; p-value <0.001) of the patients; biliary leakage (10.1%; 95% CI: 7.5–13.1; I2 = 81%; p-value <0.001) and wound infection (6.6%; 95% CI: 4.6–9; I2 = 27%; p-value = 0.17) were the most common complications. The post-endocystectomy mortality rate was 1.2% (95% CI: 0.8–1.8; I2 = 21%; p-value = 0.15) and the recurrence rate was 4.8% (95% CI: 3.1–6.8; I2 = 87%; p-value <0.001). Thirty-nine studies (88.7%) had a mean follow-up of more than one year after endocystectomy, and only 14 studies (31.8%) had a follow-up of more than five years.ConclusionEndocystectomy is a conservative and feasible surgical approach. Despite previous disencouraging experiences, our results suggest that endocystectomy is associated with low mortality and recurrence.

Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokine profile in hepatic cystic Echinococcosis patients with different cyst stages.

The study aimed to investigate possible correlation between expression level of Th1/Th2/Th17-type profile and cyst viability in the systemic and local immunity of hepatic cystic Echinococcosis (CE) patients. Expression of Th1-type interleukin (IL)-2, interferon (IFN)-γ, tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α, Th2-type IL-4, IL-6, IL-10 and Th17-type IL-17A was examined in the serum and liver samples of hepatic CE patients with different cyst stages. Compared with healthy controls, Th1/Th2/Th17-type cytokines were significantly increased in the serum of hepatic CE patients. Moreover, expression of these cytokines was also at higher level in the inflammatory cell band of peri-lesion liver (PL) tissues than that in the adjacent normal (AN) liver tissues. Interestingly, elevation of Th1-type and Th17-type cytokines was more evident in PL tissues of patients with inactive cysts. Relatively, Th2-type cytokines were predominant in PL tissues of patients with active cysts. Our findings provide new insights that Th1/Th2/Th2-type cytokine profile was associated with cyst stages. In hepatic CE patients with inactive cysts, Th1 and Th17-type cytokines were predominant. Comparatively, Th2-type cytokines were more evident in hepatic CE patients with active cysts, which may provide basis for the immune response diversity in hepatic CE patients with different cyst stages.

Serology for the diagnosis of human hepatic cystic echinococcosis and its relation with cyst staging: A systematic review of the literature with meta-analysis.

BackgroundThe diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis (CE) is primarily based on imaging, while serology should be applied when imaging is inconclusive. CE cyst stage has been reported among the most important factors influencing the outcome of serodiagnosis. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of the relation between cyst stage of hepatic CE and diagnostic sensitivity of serological tests, to evaluate whether their relation is a consistent finding and provide guidance for the interpretation of results of serological tests.Methodology/Principal findingsMEDLINE, EMBASE, CENTRAL, and Lilacs databases were searched on December 1st 2019. Original studies published after 2003 (year of publication of the CE cyst classification), reporting sensitivity of serological tests applied to the diagnosis of human hepatic CE, as diagnosed and staged by imaging, were included. The quality of studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Data from 14 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Summary estimates of sensitivities and 95% confidence intervals were obtained using random effects meta-analysis. Overall, test sensitivity was highest in the presence of CE2 and CE3 (CE3a and/or CE3b), and lowest in the presence of CE5 and CE4 cysts. ELISA, ICT and WB showed the highest sensitivities, while IHA performed worst.Conclusions/SignificanceThe results of our study confirm the presence of a clear and consistent relation between cyst stage and serological tests results. Limitations of evidence included the heterogeneity of the antigenic preparations used, which prevented to determine whether the relation between cyst stage and sensitivity was influenced by the type of antigenic preparation, the paucity of studies testing the same panel of sera with different assays, and the lack of studies assessing the performance of the same assay in both field and hospital-based settings. Our results indicate the absolute need to consider cyst staging when evaluating serological results of patients with hepatic CE.

Omentoplasty decreases deep organ space surgical site infection compared with external tube drainage after conservative surgery for hepatic cystic echinococcosis: Meta-analysis with a meta-regression.

The rate of deep organ space/surgical site infection after conservative surgery for hepatic cystic echinococcosis (HCE) ranges from 12% to 26% with a post-operative mortality rate between 0% and 7.5%. This systematic review with meta-analysis aimed to investigate whether omentoplasty (OP) following conservative surgery for HCE leads to decreased rates of morbidity and mortality compared to external tube drainage ETD. We identified 4540 articles through database searching. After verifying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, we retained eight studies for final analysis: two randomized controlled trials (RCT), one prospective comparative study and five retrospective comparative studies. The main outcome measure was organ space/surgical site (OS/SS) morbidity that was limited to "deep organ space/surgical site infection (Deep OS/SSI) with or without re-operation". The eight studies reported results for deep OS/SSI (6/374 (OP) and 60/403 (ETD), respectively). There were statistically significantly less deep OS/SSI with OP (vs. ETD) OR=0.17 95%CI [0.05, 0.62] (P=0.007). A random-effect meta-regression, including the eight studies, showed an interaction in favor of OP. There were also statistically significant less biliary leakage±fistula and overall morbidity in OP compared to ETD. On the other hand, no statistically significant difference was found concerning deep bleeding, mortality and recurrence between these two groups. This meta-analysis with a meta-regression showed that there were statistically significant less deep OS/SSI, biliary leakage±fistula and overall morbidity in OP compared to ETD.