[Sonographic course of systemic echinococcosis in a 10 year old girl (with cardiac, hepatic, renal and muscular involvement)].
OBJECTIVE
To present the predominantly ultrasonographic (initial and follow-up) imaging in a disease that is rare among the Central European paediatric population--and to evaluate the role of ultrasound for initial staging and follow-up under antihelmintic therapy.


METHODS
The imaging documents as well as the clinical record of a 10-year old Armenian girl with systemic hydatid disease (cystic echinococcosis) were analysed retrospectively.


RESULTS
By means of ultrasound, the complete initial systemic spread of the disease with at least 11 cysts within the liver, 1 cyst in the left kidney, 1 peri-/2 intracardiac cysts, and 1 cyst in the dorsal musculature was detected. Repeated sonographic examinations allowed the estimation of successful medical treatment by the following criteria: size reduction of all cysts with changing internal structures from an initially echo-free to an increasingly homogeneous echodense character; no developing new cysts. In addition, CT and MRI enabled a more complete demonstration of especially the intra- and pericardiac lesions (preoperatively) and the exclusion of further intracranial cysts.


CONCLUSIONS
In paediatric hydatid disease, ultrasonography yields important information not only with regard to the initial staging, but also to the antihelmintic therapeutic effects and thus helps to determine when to discontinue medical treatment.
Riebel
T
T
Abt. Pädiatrische Radiologie, Kinderklinik Charité, Humboldt Universität, Berlin.
Bassir
C
C
Luck
W
W
Mäurer
J
J
Schmitz
L
L
D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001136:Armenia / Q000208:ethnology; D002648:Child; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D007668:Kidney / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000469:parasitology; D008099:Liver / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000469:parasitology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000469:parasitology; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed
D000871:Anthelmintics
Sonographischer Verlauf einer systemischen zystischen Echinokokkose bei einem 10jährigen Mädchen (mit kardialem, hepatischem, renalem und muskulärem Befall).