Echinococcus multilocularis
From IDWiki
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