RESUMEN
OBJECTIVES: The aims of this study were to investigate the efficacy of a new percutaneous treatment modality of hydatid disease of the liver and to present the results of long term follow-up. METHODS: Eighty-seven patients (55 female, mean age 43.5 yr) with 98 hydatid cysts (73 type I, 15 type II, and 10 type III) in the liver underwent percutaneous treatment. All patients were examined by ultrasonography and some of them were examined by CT. They were all positive by indirect hemagglutination test. Sonographic guidance was used in all patients. The procedure included the puncture and free drainage of the cyst fluid. After free drainage was stopped, absolute alcohol and polidocanol 1% were used as sclerosing agents. The patients were followed-up with periodic ultrasonographic examinations. RESULTS: The mean follow-up time was 33 months. The mean diameter of the cysts decreased from 77.0+/-2.7 mm to 63.0+/-2.5 mm (p < 0.001). The entire cyst cavity filled with a solid echo pattern in 32 cysts, two-thirds of the cyst cavity showed a pseudotumor echo pattern in 34 cysts, and one-third of the cyst cavity showed a pseudotumor pattern in 23 cysts, whereas no pseudotumor appearence was observed in eight cysts. Apart from an anaphylactoid reaction observed in one patient, no major complication occurred during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: Long term results indicate that this new percutaneous treatment modality of the hydatid disease of the liver is an effective and safe method without causing major complications. Percutaneous treatment of hydatid cysts of the liver offers good results and should be the first choice, especially for patients who are contraindicated to surgery.