Long-term albendazole treatment in one case of alveolar echinococcosis. Case report.
OBJECTIVE
Curative therapy of alveolar echinococcosis is total surgical removal of the infected tissue and concomitant chemotherapy. However, this curative resection can be done on a limited number of patients, for the remaining ones various palliative procedures can be performed.


METHODS
In this article it is aimed to present the result of long-term albendazole treatment in patient who had a palliative hepatojejunostomy for obstructive jaundice due to unresectable alveolar echinococcosis.


RESULTS
Systemic albendazole treatment was initiated in this patient after palliative hepatojejunostomy procedure. During follow up there was no abnormality in blood chemistry and a considerable regression in size of the lesion was found in postoperative month 24. Residual hepatic lesion was histopathologically documented and showed apparently non-viable parasitic cysts by biopsy. These findings suggest the long-term albendazole therapy being parasitocidal.


CONCLUSIONS
Palliative or mass reduction surgery combined with long-term albendazole therapy is the standard therapy for advanced disease, especially when curative resection might result in significant morbidity and mortality.
Cökmez
Atilla
A
Izmir Atatürk Training Hospital, 1st Department of Surgery, Izmir.
Aydede
Hasan
H
Gür
Serhat
S
Tarcan
Ercüment
E
D000328:Adult; D015766:Albendazole / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000871:Anthelmintics / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D004444:Echinococcosis, Hepatic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000871:Anthelmintics; D015766:Albendazole