Primary echinococcal disease of the kidney: the case for a more conservative approach.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate conservative management of renal echinococcosis in cases with normal renal function and active disease.


METHODS
From a series of 12 consecutive patients with primary renal echinococcosis, nephrectomy was suggested to 4 patients because of kidney destruction. One patient who denied surgery and 5, in whom serological tests were positive, were given mebendazole for 30 days. 3 patients with no evidence of active disease were not given any medication.


RESULTS
The patient who denied nephrectomy and 1 out of 5 with positive serological tests did not respond to mebendazole treatment. The latter underwent a cyst excision. Thus, 4 responders to mebendazole and 3 who were not given any medication, avoided surgery and continue to have negative serological tests for more than 3 years.


CONCLUSIONS
Conservative management and long term follow up are proposed for the non-active or mebendazole-responsive patients. For the non-respondents or the cases with kidney destruction, surgery is the only hope for cure.
Perimenis
P
P
Department of Urology, Patras University Hospital, Rio, Greece. perimenis@internet.gr
Athanasopoulos
A
A
Gyftopoulos
K
K
Barbalias
G
G
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D004443:Echinococcosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008463:Mebendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D008463:Mebendazole