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