View source for Echinococcus multilocularis

{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Echinococcus multilocularis''}}

== Background ==

=== Microbiology ===

* Cestode in the [[Echinococcus]] family

==Clinical Manifestations==

*Causes alveolar echinococcosis
*Presents as a metastatic malignancy of unknown primary, mot commonly with malaise, weight loss, and qight upper quadrant discomfort
**May also mimic hepatic carcinoma, cirrhosis, and tuberculosis
*Can cause cholestatic jaundrice, cholangitis, portal hypertension, and Budd-Chiari syndrome

== Management ==
*Main treatment is surgical resection followed by at least 2 years of antihelminthic therapy (e.g. [[albendazole]])
*Poor prognosis, with 90% 10-year mortality if untreated

[[Category:Infectious diseases]]
[[Category:Cestodes]]