title: A clinical-radiological evaluation of benzimidazoles in the management of Echinococcus granulosus cysts.
abstract: Nine patients with complicated hydatid disease managed with surgery and mebendazole/albendazole are presented. Five patients received albendazole (1 treatment course) and 5 patients received mebendazole (3 had 2 treatment courses, 1 had a switch-over from mebendazole to albendazole). The mean durations of treatment and follow-up were respectively 7 +/- 2.5 months and 7 +/- 2.5 months (albendazole); 13 +/- 10 months and 29 +/- 31 months (mebendazole). A superior clinical and radiological response was seen in 1 patient with disseminated intra-abdominal disease on switching therapy from mebendazole to albendazole. Radiological improvement occurred in 3/5 courses of albendazole and in 2/8 courses of mebendazole. Clinical improvement occurred in 3/5 courses of albendazole and 0/8 courses of mebendazole. Radiological deterioration was demonstrated in 0/5 courses of albendazole and 2/8 courses of mebendazole. Although the impression was that albendazole was superior, good responses were also seen with mebendazole. The heterogeneity of the patients, their disease, short follow-up time, lack of more sensitive noninvasive assay techniques urges caution before firm conclusions can be drawn.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: von Sinner
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Al-Hokail
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sieck
mesh_terms: D000005:Abdomen / Q000601:surgery*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D003646:Debridement; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008463:Mebendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
chemical_list: D008463:Mebendazole; D015766:Albendazole