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An 18-year-old woman with hepatic cysts
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Cynthia H. Ho, MD
Jamie Lin, MD

An 18-year-old woman presents with 3 days of epigastric abdominal pain, with no fever or constitutional symptoms. She was born in the United States and reports yearly trips since age 3 to her family’s farm in a rural area of Mexico, where she is exposed to dogs and horses.

Figure 1. Ultrasonography of the liver shows two large, anechoic hepatic cysts with thickened walls and internal debris (arrow).

Ultrasonography reveals two large hepatic cysts measuring 5.8 × 6.8 × 5.4 cm and 5.3 × 4.9 × 7 cm, with thickened walls and internal debris (Figure 1). The debris moves to dependent areas when the patient is asked to move onto her side.

Laboratory values at the time of presentation are as follows:

  • White blood cell count 11.9 × 109/L (reference range 4.5–11.0), with 20% eosinophils
  • Alkaline phosphatase 116 U/L (30–100)
  • Total protein 7.3 g/dL (6.0–8.0)
  • Albumin 4.3 g/dL (3.5–5.0)
  • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 19 U/L (10–40)
  • Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 18 U/L (5–40)
  • Total bilirubin 0.2 mg/dL (0.3–1.2)
  • Direct bilirubin 0.1 mg/dL (0.1–0.3)
  • Echinococcus antibody (IgG) testing is positive.

CYSTIC ECHINOCOCCOSIS

The two clinically relevant species of Echinococcus that cause human infection are E granulosus (in cystic echinococcosis) and E multilocularis (in alveolar echinococcosis). Based on clinical and radiographic findings, hepatic hydatid disease from cystic echinococcosis can usually be differentiated from the alveolar form.

E granulosus is a parasitic tapeworm that requires an intermediate host (sheep, goats, cows) and a definite host (dogs, foxes, and related species) for its life cycle. Humans become infected when they ingest food contaminated with feces that contain the eggs of the tapeworm or when they handle carnivorous animals, usually dogs, and accidentally ingest the tapeworm eggs. Once ingested, the egg releases an oncosphere that penetrates the intestinal wall, enters the circulation, and develops into a cyst, most often in the liver and the lungs.1 Human-to-human transmission does not occur.2

Hydatid cysts grow slowly, at a rate of 1 to 50 mm per year,3 so most patients remain asymptomatic for several years. Symptoms occur when a cyst ruptures or impinges on structures.3 Fever and constitutional symptoms usually occur only if there is rupture or bacterial superinfection of the cyst. Tests of liver function tend to be normal unless a cyst obstructs biliary flow. Eosinophilia occurs in 25% of patients.1 Eosinophilia along with the abrupt onset of abdominal pain suggests cyst rupture.

Making the diagnosis

Diagnosis is made by characteristic ultrasonographic findings and by serologic testing. Antibody assays for Echinococcus include indirect hemagglutination, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and latex agglutination. However, these serologic antibody assays for immunoglobulin G cross-react to different echinococcal species as well as to other helminthic infections. Specific serologic studies such as an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for E multilocularis are available to confirm the species of Echinococcus but are only used to distinguish cystic echinococcosis from alveolar echinococcosis.

Treatment options

Treatment options include surgery, percutaneous procedures, drug therapy, and observation.

Currently, there is no clear consensus on treatment. To guide treatment decisions, the World Health Organization Informal Working Group on Echinococcosis (WHO-IWGE) recommends management of hepatic hydatid cysts based on classification, size, symptoms, location, and available resources.3

Two percutaneous treatments are aspiration, injection, and re-aspiration to destroy the germinal matrix, and percutaneous therapy to destroy the endocyst. Percutaneous aspiration, injection, and re-aspiration is increasingly used as the first-line treatment for single or easily accessible cysts and for patients who cannot undergo surgery. Surgery is considered for multiple cysts, large cysts, and cysts not easily accessible with a percutaneous technique.3 Complication rates and length of hospital stay with percutaneous aspiration are lower than with surgery.4 Observation is recommended for small, asymptomatic, inactive cysts.

Leakage of cyst contents during surgical or percutaneous intervention or spontaneous rupture can cause a recurrence,5 and anaphylaxis is a potential complication of cyst rupture.1 For this reason, giving oral albendazole (Albenza) is recommended before any intervention. Sterilization of the cyst contents with a protoscolicidal agent (20% NaCl) before evacuation of cyst contents is also standard practice.

The rate of cyst recurrence is 16.2% with open surgery and 3.5% with percutaneous intervention.6 A higher incidence of recurrence in patients who undergo surgical cystectomy likely reflects the more complicated and active nature of the cysts in patients who undergo surgery.6

Albendazole is the drug of choice for hepatic hydatid disease.3 The optimal duration of treatment is unclear but should be guided by a combination of clinical response, medication side effects, serologic titers, and imaging. The most common adverse effects of albendazole are hepatotoxicity, abdominal pain, and nausea.

OUR PATIENT’S DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

In our patient, ultrasonography confirmed the diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis by the finding of active anechoic cysts with echogenic internal debris and with a well-delineated cyst wall. The WHO-IWGE classification was CE1, ie, active anechoic cysts with internal echogenic debris.

Our patient underwent surgical rather than percutaneous cystectomy because of concern about possible cyst leakage, since she had presented with the acute onset of pain and eosinophilia. We were also concerned about the subdiaphragmatic location of the larger cyst, which could have been difficult to reach percutaneously.

Open total pericystectomy involved opening the cyst cavity, sterilizing the contents with 20% NaCl, evacuating the cyst contents, and removing the cyst tissue. Two large cysts were excised and sent for histologic examination, which confirmed E granulosus. Percutaneous aspiration was necessary 4 months later because of a recurrence, and albendazole 400 mg twice daily was continued for another 5 months. Ultrasonography 3 years later showed no evidence of echinococcal cysts, and her antibody titers remain undetectable.

References
  1. McManus DP, Gray DJ, Zhang W, Yang Y. Diagnosis, treatment, and management of echinococcosis. BMJ 2012; 344:e3866.
  2. McManus DP, Zhang W, Li J, Bartley PB. Echinococcosis. Lancet 2003; 362:1295–1304.
  3. Brunetti E, Kern P, Vuitton DA; Writing Panel for the WHO-IWGE. Expert consensus for the diagnosis and treatment of cystic and alveolar echinococcosis in humans. Acta Trop 2010; 114:1–16.
  4. Khuroo MS, Wani NA, Javid G, et al. Percutaneous drainage compared with surgery for hepatic hydatid cysts. N Engl J Med 1997; 337:881–887.
  5. Kayaalp C, Sengul N, Akoglu M. Importance of cyst content in hydatid liver surgery. Arch Surg 2002; 137:159–163.
  6. Yagci G, Ustunsoz B, Kaymakcioglu N, et al. Results of surgical, laparoscopic, and percutaneous treatment for hydatid disease of the liver: 10 years experience with 355 patients. World J Surg 2005; 29:1670–1679.
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Author and Disclosure Information

Cynthia H. Ho, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine and Pediatrics, Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA

Jamie Lin, MD
Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Glendale, CA

Address: Cynthia H. Ho, MD, Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center, 2020 Zonal Avenue, IRD Room 109, Los Angeles, CA 90033; e-mail: [email protected]

Issue
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine - 81(5)
Publications
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
Topics
Imaging
Hepatology
Infectious Diseases
Page Number
281-282
Sections
The Clinical Picture
Author(s)
Cynthia H. Ho, MD
Jamie Lin, MD
Author(s)
Cynthia H. Ho, MD
Jamie Lin, MD
Author and Disclosure Information

Cynthia H. Ho, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine and Pediatrics, Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA

Jamie Lin, MD
Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Glendale, CA

Address: Cynthia H. Ho, MD, Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center, 2020 Zonal Avenue, IRD Room 109, Los Angeles, CA 90033; e-mail: [email protected]

Author and Disclosure Information

Cynthia H. Ho, MD
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine and Pediatrics, Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center, Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA

Jamie Lin, MD
Glendale Adventist Medical Center, Glendale, CA

Address: Cynthia H. Ho, MD, Los Angeles County and University of Southern California Medical Center, 2020 Zonal Avenue, IRD Room 109, Los Angeles, CA 90033; e-mail: [email protected]

Article PDF
media_ae02239_281.pdf
Article PDF
media_ae02239_281.pdf

An 18-year-old woman presents with 3 days of epigastric abdominal pain, with no fever or constitutional symptoms. She was born in the United States and reports yearly trips since age 3 to her family’s farm in a rural area of Mexico, where she is exposed to dogs and horses.

Figure 1. Ultrasonography of the liver shows two large, anechoic hepatic cysts with thickened walls and internal debris (arrow).

Ultrasonography reveals two large hepatic cysts measuring 5.8 × 6.8 × 5.4 cm and 5.3 × 4.9 × 7 cm, with thickened walls and internal debris (Figure 1). The debris moves to dependent areas when the patient is asked to move onto her side.

Laboratory values at the time of presentation are as follows:

  • White blood cell count 11.9 × 109/L (reference range 4.5–11.0), with 20% eosinophils
  • Alkaline phosphatase 116 U/L (30–100)
  • Total protein 7.3 g/dL (6.0–8.0)
  • Albumin 4.3 g/dL (3.5–5.0)
  • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 19 U/L (10–40)
  • Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 18 U/L (5–40)
  • Total bilirubin 0.2 mg/dL (0.3–1.2)
  • Direct bilirubin 0.1 mg/dL (0.1–0.3)
  • Echinococcus antibody (IgG) testing is positive.

CYSTIC ECHINOCOCCOSIS

The two clinically relevant species of Echinococcus that cause human infection are E granulosus (in cystic echinococcosis) and E multilocularis (in alveolar echinococcosis). Based on clinical and radiographic findings, hepatic hydatid disease from cystic echinococcosis can usually be differentiated from the alveolar form.

E granulosus is a parasitic tapeworm that requires an intermediate host (sheep, goats, cows) and a definite host (dogs, foxes, and related species) for its life cycle. Humans become infected when they ingest food contaminated with feces that contain the eggs of the tapeworm or when they handle carnivorous animals, usually dogs, and accidentally ingest the tapeworm eggs. Once ingested, the egg releases an oncosphere that penetrates the intestinal wall, enters the circulation, and develops into a cyst, most often in the liver and the lungs.1 Human-to-human transmission does not occur.2

Hydatid cysts grow slowly, at a rate of 1 to 50 mm per year,3 so most patients remain asymptomatic for several years. Symptoms occur when a cyst ruptures or impinges on structures.3 Fever and constitutional symptoms usually occur only if there is rupture or bacterial superinfection of the cyst. Tests of liver function tend to be normal unless a cyst obstructs biliary flow. Eosinophilia occurs in 25% of patients.1 Eosinophilia along with the abrupt onset of abdominal pain suggests cyst rupture.

Making the diagnosis

Diagnosis is made by characteristic ultrasonographic findings and by serologic testing. Antibody assays for Echinococcus include indirect hemagglutination, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and latex agglutination. However, these serologic antibody assays for immunoglobulin G cross-react to different echinococcal species as well as to other helminthic infections. Specific serologic studies such as an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for E multilocularis are available to confirm the species of Echinococcus but are only used to distinguish cystic echinococcosis from alveolar echinococcosis.

Treatment options

Treatment options include surgery, percutaneous procedures, drug therapy, and observation.

Currently, there is no clear consensus on treatment. To guide treatment decisions, the World Health Organization Informal Working Group on Echinococcosis (WHO-IWGE) recommends management of hepatic hydatid cysts based on classification, size, symptoms, location, and available resources.3

Two percutaneous treatments are aspiration, injection, and re-aspiration to destroy the germinal matrix, and percutaneous therapy to destroy the endocyst. Percutaneous aspiration, injection, and re-aspiration is increasingly used as the first-line treatment for single or easily accessible cysts and for patients who cannot undergo surgery. Surgery is considered for multiple cysts, large cysts, and cysts not easily accessible with a percutaneous technique.3 Complication rates and length of hospital stay with percutaneous aspiration are lower than with surgery.4 Observation is recommended for small, asymptomatic, inactive cysts.

Leakage of cyst contents during surgical or percutaneous intervention or spontaneous rupture can cause a recurrence,5 and anaphylaxis is a potential complication of cyst rupture.1 For this reason, giving oral albendazole (Albenza) is recommended before any intervention. Sterilization of the cyst contents with a protoscolicidal agent (20% NaCl) before evacuation of cyst contents is also standard practice.

The rate of cyst recurrence is 16.2% with open surgery and 3.5% with percutaneous intervention.6 A higher incidence of recurrence in patients who undergo surgical cystectomy likely reflects the more complicated and active nature of the cysts in patients who undergo surgery.6

Albendazole is the drug of choice for hepatic hydatid disease.3 The optimal duration of treatment is unclear but should be guided by a combination of clinical response, medication side effects, serologic titers, and imaging. The most common adverse effects of albendazole are hepatotoxicity, abdominal pain, and nausea.

OUR PATIENT’S DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

In our patient, ultrasonography confirmed the diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis by the finding of active anechoic cysts with echogenic internal debris and with a well-delineated cyst wall. The WHO-IWGE classification was CE1, ie, active anechoic cysts with internal echogenic debris.

Our patient underwent surgical rather than percutaneous cystectomy because of concern about possible cyst leakage, since she had presented with the acute onset of pain and eosinophilia. We were also concerned about the subdiaphragmatic location of the larger cyst, which could have been difficult to reach percutaneously.

Open total pericystectomy involved opening the cyst cavity, sterilizing the contents with 20% NaCl, evacuating the cyst contents, and removing the cyst tissue. Two large cysts were excised and sent for histologic examination, which confirmed E granulosus. Percutaneous aspiration was necessary 4 months later because of a recurrence, and albendazole 400 mg twice daily was continued for another 5 months. Ultrasonography 3 years later showed no evidence of echinococcal cysts, and her antibody titers remain undetectable.

An 18-year-old woman presents with 3 days of epigastric abdominal pain, with no fever or constitutional symptoms. She was born in the United States and reports yearly trips since age 3 to her family’s farm in a rural area of Mexico, where she is exposed to dogs and horses.

Figure 1. Ultrasonography of the liver shows two large, anechoic hepatic cysts with thickened walls and internal debris (arrow).

Ultrasonography reveals two large hepatic cysts measuring 5.8 × 6.8 × 5.4 cm and 5.3 × 4.9 × 7 cm, with thickened walls and internal debris (Figure 1). The debris moves to dependent areas when the patient is asked to move onto her side.

Laboratory values at the time of presentation are as follows:

  • White blood cell count 11.9 × 109/L (reference range 4.5–11.0), with 20% eosinophils
  • Alkaline phosphatase 116 U/L (30–100)
  • Total protein 7.3 g/dL (6.0–8.0)
  • Albumin 4.3 g/dL (3.5–5.0)
  • Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 19 U/L (10–40)
  • Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) 18 U/L (5–40)
  • Total bilirubin 0.2 mg/dL (0.3–1.2)
  • Direct bilirubin 0.1 mg/dL (0.1–0.3)
  • Echinococcus antibody (IgG) testing is positive.

CYSTIC ECHINOCOCCOSIS

The two clinically relevant species of Echinococcus that cause human infection are E granulosus (in cystic echinococcosis) and E multilocularis (in alveolar echinococcosis). Based on clinical and radiographic findings, hepatic hydatid disease from cystic echinococcosis can usually be differentiated from the alveolar form.

E granulosus is a parasitic tapeworm that requires an intermediate host (sheep, goats, cows) and a definite host (dogs, foxes, and related species) for its life cycle. Humans become infected when they ingest food contaminated with feces that contain the eggs of the tapeworm or when they handle carnivorous animals, usually dogs, and accidentally ingest the tapeworm eggs. Once ingested, the egg releases an oncosphere that penetrates the intestinal wall, enters the circulation, and develops into a cyst, most often in the liver and the lungs.1 Human-to-human transmission does not occur.2

Hydatid cysts grow slowly, at a rate of 1 to 50 mm per year,3 so most patients remain asymptomatic for several years. Symptoms occur when a cyst ruptures or impinges on structures.3 Fever and constitutional symptoms usually occur only if there is rupture or bacterial superinfection of the cyst. Tests of liver function tend to be normal unless a cyst obstructs biliary flow. Eosinophilia occurs in 25% of patients.1 Eosinophilia along with the abrupt onset of abdominal pain suggests cyst rupture.

Making the diagnosis

Diagnosis is made by characteristic ultrasonographic findings and by serologic testing. Antibody assays for Echinococcus include indirect hemagglutination, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and latex agglutination. However, these serologic antibody assays for immunoglobulin G cross-react to different echinococcal species as well as to other helminthic infections. Specific serologic studies such as an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for E multilocularis are available to confirm the species of Echinococcus but are only used to distinguish cystic echinococcosis from alveolar echinococcosis.

Treatment options

Treatment options include surgery, percutaneous procedures, drug therapy, and observation.

Currently, there is no clear consensus on treatment. To guide treatment decisions, the World Health Organization Informal Working Group on Echinococcosis (WHO-IWGE) recommends management of hepatic hydatid cysts based on classification, size, symptoms, location, and available resources.3

Two percutaneous treatments are aspiration, injection, and re-aspiration to destroy the germinal matrix, and percutaneous therapy to destroy the endocyst. Percutaneous aspiration, injection, and re-aspiration is increasingly used as the first-line treatment for single or easily accessible cysts and for patients who cannot undergo surgery. Surgery is considered for multiple cysts, large cysts, and cysts not easily accessible with a percutaneous technique.3 Complication rates and length of hospital stay with percutaneous aspiration are lower than with surgery.4 Observation is recommended for small, asymptomatic, inactive cysts.

Leakage of cyst contents during surgical or percutaneous intervention or spontaneous rupture can cause a recurrence,5 and anaphylaxis is a potential complication of cyst rupture.1 For this reason, giving oral albendazole (Albenza) is recommended before any intervention. Sterilization of the cyst contents with a protoscolicidal agent (20% NaCl) before evacuation of cyst contents is also standard practice.

The rate of cyst recurrence is 16.2% with open surgery and 3.5% with percutaneous intervention.6 A higher incidence of recurrence in patients who undergo surgical cystectomy likely reflects the more complicated and active nature of the cysts in patients who undergo surgery.6

Albendazole is the drug of choice for hepatic hydatid disease.3 The optimal duration of treatment is unclear but should be guided by a combination of clinical response, medication side effects, serologic titers, and imaging. The most common adverse effects of albendazole are hepatotoxicity, abdominal pain, and nausea.

OUR PATIENT’S DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

In our patient, ultrasonography confirmed the diagnosis of cystic echinococcosis by the finding of active anechoic cysts with echogenic internal debris and with a well-delineated cyst wall. The WHO-IWGE classification was CE1, ie, active anechoic cysts with internal echogenic debris.

Our patient underwent surgical rather than percutaneous cystectomy because of concern about possible cyst leakage, since she had presented with the acute onset of pain and eosinophilia. We were also concerned about the subdiaphragmatic location of the larger cyst, which could have been difficult to reach percutaneously.

Open total pericystectomy involved opening the cyst cavity, sterilizing the contents with 20% NaCl, evacuating the cyst contents, and removing the cyst tissue. Two large cysts were excised and sent for histologic examination, which confirmed E granulosus. Percutaneous aspiration was necessary 4 months later because of a recurrence, and albendazole 400 mg twice daily was continued for another 5 months. Ultrasonography 3 years later showed no evidence of echinococcal cysts, and her antibody titers remain undetectable.

References
  1. McManus DP, Gray DJ, Zhang W, Yang Y. Diagnosis, treatment, and management of echinococcosis. BMJ 2012; 344:e3866.
  2. McManus DP, Zhang W, Li J, Bartley PB. Echinococcosis. Lancet 2003; 362:1295–1304.
  3. Brunetti E, Kern P, Vuitton DA; Writing Panel for the WHO-IWGE. Expert consensus for the diagnosis and treatment of cystic and alveolar echinococcosis in humans. Acta Trop 2010; 114:1–16.
  4. Khuroo MS, Wani NA, Javid G, et al. Percutaneous drainage compared with surgery for hepatic hydatid cysts. N Engl J Med 1997; 337:881–887.
  5. Kayaalp C, Sengul N, Akoglu M. Importance of cyst content in hydatid liver surgery. Arch Surg 2002; 137:159–163.
  6. Yagci G, Ustunsoz B, Kaymakcioglu N, et al. Results of surgical, laparoscopic, and percutaneous treatment for hydatid disease of the liver: 10 years experience with 355 patients. World J Surg 2005; 29:1670–1679.
References
  1. McManus DP, Gray DJ, Zhang W, Yang Y. Diagnosis, treatment, and management of echinococcosis. BMJ 2012; 344:e3866.
  2. McManus DP, Zhang W, Li J, Bartley PB. Echinococcosis. Lancet 2003; 362:1295–1304.
  3. Brunetti E, Kern P, Vuitton DA; Writing Panel for the WHO-IWGE. Expert consensus for the diagnosis and treatment of cystic and alveolar echinococcosis in humans. Acta Trop 2010; 114:1–16.
  4. Khuroo MS, Wani NA, Javid G, et al. Percutaneous drainage compared with surgery for hepatic hydatid cysts. N Engl J Med 1997; 337:881–887.
  5. Kayaalp C, Sengul N, Akoglu M. Importance of cyst content in hydatid liver surgery. Arch Surg 2002; 137:159–163.
  6. Yagci G, Ustunsoz B, Kaymakcioglu N, et al. Results of surgical, laparoscopic, and percutaneous treatment for hydatid disease of the liver: 10 years experience with 355 patients. World J Surg 2005; 29:1670–1679.
Issue
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine - 81(5)
Issue
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine - 81(5)
Page Number
281-282
Page Number
281-282
Publications
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
Publications
Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine
Topics
Imaging
Hepatology
Infectious Diseases
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An 18-year-old woman with hepatic cysts
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