Complicated Clinical Course of a Patient with Multivisceral Cystic Echinococcosis Requiring Extensive Surgical and Medical Treatment

Abstract

Cystic echinococcosis is an often-overlooked condition that otherwise negatively impacts both the individual and the community, prompting major public health concerns. Early diagnosis and treatment, as well as collaboration between specialties including surgery and parasitology, are essential for avoiding complications and disease relapse. To better illustrate this, we present the case of an elderly person with a rare localization of the disease at the muscular level. The patient underwent numerous surgical interventions, and received multiple courses of antiparasitic treatment over the course of 40 years as a result of the multivisceral dissemination of the parasite.

Cystic Echinococcosis in the Early 2020s: A Review

“…Because of its risk of recurrence, the WHO-IWGE recommends that echinococcosis be managed by using a multidisciplinary approach that is similar to that of cancer. The therapeutic and/or prophylactic treatment plan is individualized, taking into account the patient’s clinical characteristics and the experience of the medical and surgical team [ 1 , 3 , 4 , 10 , 12 , 13 , 27 , 46 , 47 , 48 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 ]. There are multiple treatment options, and sometimes, a combination of approaches is necessary depending on the location and size of the cysts as well as the presence or absence of complications.…”

“…Throughout the disease, the liver is the most common location for cysts [ 4 ]. Most patients have only one organ affected with a solitary cyst, but in some unfortunate and severe instances, multiple cysts can develop in various viscera [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ], such as the lungs, kidneys, spleen, brain, and bones.…”