Skip to main content
Log in

Contrast-enhanced CT and MRI findings of atypical hepatic Echinococcus alveolaris infestation

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Pediatric Radiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Diagnosis of liver infestation by Echinococcus alveolaris (EA) is based on serological and radiological findings. In this report, we present a 15-year-old girl with atypical hepatic EA infestation showing central punctate calcifications and contrast enhancement on the portal and late phases of CT and MRI. CT showed a hypodense mass involving more than half of the liver with prominent central calcifications. MRI revealed hypointense signal of the infiltrative mass on both T1- and T2-weighted images. Contrast enhancement is a unique finding in hepatic EA infestation that may cause difficulties with diagnosis. MRI may provide invaluable information in the diagnosis of EA infestation of the liver, either by disclosing the infiltrative pattern of infestation without significant effect to vascular structures, or by the signal characteristics.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wilson JF, Rausch RL (1980) Alveolar hydatid disease. A review of clinical features of 33 indigenous cases of Echinococcus multilocularis infection in Alaskan Eskimos. Am J Trop Med Hyg 29:1340–1355

    Google Scholar 

  2. Katranci N, Elmas N, Yilmaz F, et al (1999) Correlative CT, MRI and histological findings of hepatic Echinococcus alveolaris: a case report. Comput Med Imaging Graph 23:155–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Harman M, Arslan H, Kotan C, et al (2003) MRI findings of hepatic alveolar echinococcosis. Clin Imaging 27:411–416

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Kunze V, Layer G, Bruning R, et al (1992) Metastasising Echinococcus alveolaris of the liver (in German). Radiologe 32:444–447

    Google Scholar 

  5. Balci C, Tunaci A, Semelka RC, et al (2000) Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis: MRI findings. Magn Reson Imaging 18:537–541

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Claudon M, Bessiere M, Regent D, et al (1990) Alveolar echinococcosis of the liver: MR findings. J Comput Assist Tomogr 14:608–614

    Google Scholar 

  7. Maier W (1983) Computed tomographic diagnosis of Echinococcus alveolaris. Hepatogastroenterology 30:83–85

    Google Scholar 

  8. Tarhan NC, Agildere AM, Gur G, et al (2001) HASTE MRCP and MRI findings in alveolar echinococcosis of the liver. Australas Radiol 45:496–499

    Google Scholar 

  9. Vuitton DA, Guerret-Stocker S, Carbillet JP, et al (1986) Collagen immunotyping of the hepatic fibrosis in human alveolar Echinococcosis. Z Parasitenkd 72:97–104

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Didier D, Weiler S, Rohmer P, et al (1985) Hepatic alveolar echinococcosis: correlative US and CT study. Radiology 154:179–186

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ömer Etlik.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Etlik, Ö., Bay, A., Arslan, H. et al. Contrast-enhanced CT and MRI findings of atypical hepatic Echinococcus alveolaris infestation. Pediatr Radiol 35, 546–549 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-004-1395-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00247-004-1395-1

Keywords

Navigation