Clinical analysis of twenty patients with hepatic echinococcosis in Nanjing City / 中华地方病学杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the epidemiological and clinical features of patients with hepatic echinococcosis in Nanjing City. Methods Epidemiological data, clinical manifestations, laboratory and image examination results, diagnosis and treatment of twenty patients with hepatic echinococcosis from January 2009 to December 2016 at the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University were retrospectively analyzed. Results A total of 20 hospitalized cases were investigated, of which 7 cases were males and 13 cases were females, the median age was 48 years (17 - 76 years). One case came from Tibet which was the epidemic area of hepatic echinococcosis;the other 19 cases were local hepatic echinococcosis patients including 3 cases that had raised dogs for many years and 2 cases engaged in processing and selling livestock products. Among the 20 cases, 14 cases had no remarkable symptoms and not sought medical advice until imaging examination showed focal liver lesions during a routine check-up, 2 cases saw a doctor due to hepatic cyst, 1 case due to progressive enlarged hepatic hemangioma, the remaining 3 cases due to abdominal discomfort or pain. In addition, 7 cases were diagnosed definitely in 7 to 14 days, 4 cases in 15 to 30 days, 5 cases in > 30 to 60 days, 1 case in 3 months, 1 case in 7 years and 1 case in 9 years. Thirteen patients had partial hepatectomy; the other 7 patients received endocystectomy. All patients had a good prognosis during the follow-up period. Conclusions Most of the local hepatic echinococcosis cases have no definite epidemiological data and no significant manifestations, leading to misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis. Clinical medical staff should strengthen their understanding of imaging characteristics especially the sonographic features of hepatic echinococcosis.